"VAN" (Sports Desk - 04.05.2025) :: Five African football Associations are teamed up with their European counterparts this week in Vienna, Austria, for a special FIFA-led workshop aimed at strengthening the global game through collaboration and shared expertise.
Hosted by the Austrian Football Federation from 28-30 April 2025, the event brought together representatives from Cameroon, Gabon, Morocco, Senegal, and Tanzania, alongside delegates from Finland, Georgia, Moldova, and Wales.
The workshop was part of FIFA’s ongoing commitment to raising football standards worldwide by fostering knowledge exchange between member associations. Over three days, participants dived into key topics shaping the future of the sport:-
* Sustaining elite club competitions
* Investing in football infrastructure
* Accelerating women’s football development
* Boosting participation and hosting international tournaments
* Strengthening governance and financial management
FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer for Europe, Elkhan Mammadov, highlighted the importance of such collaborations: “This is our second cross-confederation exchange—following a successful event in Uzbekistan with Asian and European federations. Here in Austria, we’re creating the same spirit of learning and partnership with African associations. By working together, we can tackle common challenges and unlock new opportunities for football worldwide.”
Gelson Fernandes, FIFA’s Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer for Africa, added: “This workshop shows the power of collaboration across continents. Many federations face similar hurdles, whether in Africa or Europe. Having a space to share ideas and solutions benefits everyone involved.”
Wallace Karia, Tanzania Football Federation President shared his thoughts “I would like to thank FIFA for organizing this kind of initiative.
“I would also like to thank FIFA for considering Tanzania for this workshop. It is a honour for me and our federation to be here to share something with our colleagues from other federations, not only from Africa but also from Europe.
“As the best part, many discussions were very helpful and it gave data to us in order to further develop the game in our country.
I think there is a need of this kind of workshop in order to get knowledge to help us in our day-to-day activity.”
The workshop encouraged open dialogue, allowing federations to exchange experiences, refine strategies, and explore innovative approaches to growing the game. Each association was represented by a maximum of two delegates, ensuring diverse perspectives in the discussions.
Through initiatives like this, FIFA aims to inspire innovation, raise standards, and build lasting partnerships—helping football thrive at every level across the globe.
Cr - AIPS
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