FIFA President Gianni Infantino has praised Ghana for its impressive progress in football development over the past decade, crediting the country’s effective use of FIFA’s support programmes for the significant strides made.
According to Infantino, Ghana has maximised the benefits of the FIFA Forward initiative and other development schemes, leading to visible improvements in infrastructure and participation across various levels of the game.
One of the standout achievements, he noted, is the transformation of the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, the nation’s technical hub. The facility now features newly installed floodlights, a 30-bed accommodation block for teams, and two additional pitches one artificial and one natural turf.
He also highlighted the inauguration of a new technical centre in Winkogo in the northern part of the country, a move aimed at expanding football development and providing more opportunities for talent outside the capital.
Infantino commended Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku for prioritising grassroots development and inclusion. With support from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, he said deliberate efforts have been made to increase participation at all levels, particularly in women’s football.
“Ghana has been one of the Member Associations who have made excellent use of the FIFA Forward and other FIFA Support Programmes over the years,” Infantino stated. “The national technical centre now has new floodlights, a 30-bed accommodation facility for teams and two new pitches. Another technical centre has been inaugurated in Winkogo.”
Women’s football, he emphasised, has experienced accelerated growth, especially through support for the National Women’s League. This backing played a crucial role in the Black Queens’ qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2024.
On the men’s side, he described Ghana’s achievements as equally remarkable, pointing to the senior national team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and again for the upcoming tournament to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
