Better Days Ahead for African Football as Mauritania Lands FIFA Talent Academy

The first of its kind FIFA Talent Academy in Africa on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 opened in Nouakchott, Mauritania, to actualise FIFA’s intention of reducing disparity in the level of football between different regions of the world and teach young players how to prepare for life outside the four lines of the pitch.

This is as it has become evident over the years that there is a competitive imbalance in global football, with European football dominant across international competitions. The academy, situated at the headquarters of the Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM), will be unearthing and developing talented youngsters not just in the country but in Africa. 

Mauritania, a nation located in North West Africa, has a rich footballing history, with football being the most popular sport in the country. However, despite the passion and enthusiasm for the game, the country has struggled to make a significant impact on the global footballing stage. Through the establishment of the FIFA Talent Academy in Mauritania, the country aims to address these challenges, providing the necessary infrastructure, training, and opportunities to help young players succeed at the highest levels of international football.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, FFRIM President, Ahmed Yahya said: “Today is a historic moment for Mauritanian football. The opening of this FIFA Talent Academy here in Mauritania reflects FIFA’s confidence in our commitment to the development of football. This investment in training our young talents marks a decisive step towards a more ambitious future for our federation.”

The Purpose of the FIFA Talent Academy

The FIFA Talent Academy in Mauritania is part of FIFA's broader strategy to develop footballing talent in countries that have the potential but lack the necessary resources and infrastructure to cultivate top-tier players. The academy provides a platform for young players, offering a combination of advanced training, mentorship, and exposure to high-level competition. Its ultimate goal is to elevate Mauritania’s national football team and create pathways for talented players to secure professional contracts, both locally and internationally.

In a video message delivered during the inauguration ceremony in Nouakchott, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the talent academies are designed to provide children, regardless of their social status, the opportunity to play football and develop their skills. His words, “This is a great day for football in Mauritania, a country passionate about our beautiful game and making tremendous strides in its development. The opening of the FIFA Talent Academy is a hugely significant moment for young players in this country.”  

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The programme, run by FIFA and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by the NGO PLAY International and the Senegal-based Diambars Institute, is also intended to make the most of football’s ability to teach life skills such as commitment and teamwork. It aims to prepare academy players to be future citizens, bearing in mind that only a tiny proportion will become professional footballers, broaden their economic and professional horizons through football, empower them and ensure their employability.

The main goal of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is to help raise the standards of national-team football around the world for both men and women, by creating a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development by maximizing each participating member association’s opportunities.

The Academy’s Infrastructure and Facilities

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Given that the academy offers a variety of training programs tailored to the specific needs of individual players, there have got to be world-class facilities that facilitate this. The academy is equipped with state-of-the-art training fields, fitness centers, and accommodations that meet FIFA’s global standards. The academy’s training pitches are designed to simulate the playing conditions that young players are likely to encounter at the professional level, ensuring that they are well-prepared for future challenges.

In addition to the physical infrastructure, the academy also focuses on developing the mental and psychological well-being of its players. Football is as much a mental game as it is a physical one, and the FIFA Talent Academy understands the importance of nurturing the mental resilience of its athletes. Through psychological counseling, team-building activities, and individual performance analysis, the academy helps players develop the mental fortitude necessary to succeed in high-pressure situations.

Coaching and Development Programs

At the heart of the FIFA Talent Academy’s success lies its coaching staff. FIFA deploys dedicated talent coaches globally to establish academies with best-practice training environments for young players of all genders. The objective amongst others is to develop the best players, act as a role model for the Federation and also create a sustainable football ecosystem towards establishing a long-term, structured pathway for talent development.

By the present tally, the world football governing body has 24 academies globally, a huge step towards the bigger plan of 75 elite FIFA Talent academies by the end of 2027. Each talent academy has FIFA-recruited and trained coaches who will be working side-by-side with local staff and coaches to establish a high-quality training environment focused on developing the most talented players in the country.

Together, the coaches will implement the three key pillars of the initiative: find talented players, train them to give them the tools to best exploit their ability, and allow them to put what they have learnt into practice by playing matches. Each FIFA Talent Academy must, however, prioritise safeguarding and education as core elements. 

Conclusion

With 24 FIFA Talent Academies already established across the world, Mauritania’s entry into this elite group marks a defining moment for the country and African football at large. This represents a significant step forward for the country’s footballing development. By providing world-class training, mentorship, and exposure to international competition, the academy is helping to unlock the potential of Mauritania’s young players. It gets even better for Africa with the inclusion of Malawi and Djibouti among the list of countries to host the FIFA football academies. 

Speaking after their respective countries were selected for the programme, Djiboutian FA President Souleiman Hassan Waberi said, “We would like to thank FIFA for its support, starting with the construction of the academy through the Forward programme. This initiative with the AFD will now ensure that it is functional so that we can train our best talent, but also provide a safer environment, offer an educational pathway and promote gender equality.”

On his part, Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu said: “The establishment of an academy is a game changer for Malawi football. This partnership with FIFA/AFD will set us apart and position us for greatness. The spin-offs of this project are huge as it will transform the lives of our players socially and economically. We cannot wait for the revolution to gather momentum as we step up gear to produce quality players with exceptional talent.”