FIFA: African cooperation tops the Dakar meeting agenda

FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino met with Senegal’s head of state, President Macky Sall, at the Presidential Palace in Dakar on the last leg of his trip to Africa. Accompanied by the president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Augustin Senghor, the delegation, which also included the general secretary of FIFA and a native of Senegal, Fatma Samoura, discussed the development of football on the continent and how it can contribute. FIFA to help its African member associations reach the top level on the world stage.

The talks also covered the organization of the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2026, the first Olympic event to be held in Africa, as well as the opening of the new stadium in Dakar, which is scheduled for 2022.

“Senegal obviously has an important role internationally and I am delighted to see the progress it has made at all levels of our sports, including youth and women’s football,” added the FIFA president, who also took the opportunity to invite President Sall will visit FIFA headquarters in Zurich on the next possible occasion.

“I appreciate the constructive exchange with the FIFA President to address the situation in Senegal and also on our continent,” said FSF President Augustin Senghor. “We are facing difficult times at the moment, especially with the coronavirus pandemic, and I appreciate the support that the FIFA president has provided to Africa, as well as his presence with us in Dakar.”

“President Sall is a huge soccer fan and of course a proud supporter of the Teranga Lions, and I was especially pleased to speak with him about the strong steps taken by the FSF and its president Augustin Senghor to constantly improve soccer in Senegal, which is a great football country not only in Africa, but worldwide, ”said Gianni Infantino. “We also spoke about the importance of FIFA and our African football associations working together, in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity for the benefit of the millions of football fans on this great continent.”