On 13 November, Djibouti marked a major milestone in football development with the official inauguration of its FIFA Talent Academy, part of the Talent Development Scheme (TDS) launched by FIFA under the leadership of Arsène Wenger.
This initiative aims to give every talented young player a genuine opportunity to progress, while strengthening the global competitiveness of both men’s and women’s football.
Djibouti thus becomes one of the first African nations – and one of 40 worldwide – to benefit from this strategic programme, which aligns with FIFA’s vision: raising the level of
national teams and reducing regional disparities.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino extended his “sincere congratulations to the Djiboutian
Football Federation for this important milestone”, adding, message: “More than 40 FIFA Talent Academies are now in place worldwide, with many more under
development. The modern facilities of this academy make it a unique centre of excellence in East Africa.”
The Djiboutian Football Federation (FDF) has already implemented a series of programmes in collaboration with FIFA: from talent identification (2024) and the selection of 20 boys and 20 girls across six regions, to the creation of regional centres training over 300 young players, and strengthening technical staff, with 15 coaches mentored by a FIFA Talent Coach. The FIFA Talent Academy in Djibouti is therefore a significant step on African soil and a recognition of the remarkable efforts and progress of the FDF, which has scrupulously met the established criteria.
The goal of the Talent Academy in Djibouti is the same as all FIFA-recognised academies: to develop top players, serve as a model for the federation, create a sustainable football ecosystem, structure a long-term talent development pathway, and foster the social and
personal growth of young people. The academy can host nearly 50 youngsters in a professional setting, enabling the development of elite players through a high-level
training environment. By integrating schooling into its programme, the academy promotes a sustainable ecosystem that supports the personal and social development of young athletes.
The ultimate goal is to provide young players with top-level guidance, combining training, education and development, so they can reach their full potential and contribute to the growth of football in their country,” explains Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
FIFA aims to establish 75 Talent Academies by 2027, in line with its strategic objectives for global football. Djibouti becomes the second African country to officially inaugurate a Talent Academy, after Mauritania.
And that’s not all. In addition to the Talent Academy, FIFA is inaugurating a FIFA Arena mini-pitch in the capital, at Palmeraie School. Children will benefit from this modern, sustainable facility, which provides a safe and inspiring space to play football. The FIFA Arena project will have an impact by enabling young people from underprivileged neighbourhoods to play football in ideal conditions, promoting social inclusion, personal growth and passion for the sport. Djibouti is the fifth African country to benefit from this initiative, after Algeria, Liberia, Niger and Morocco.
FIFA Arena is part of a global initiative to install mini-pitches worldwide, in line with the commitment made by the FIFA President at the Sustainable Sport Summit in Paris in July 2024. This project supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by offering more play opportunities for children. FIFA’s objective is to install at least 1,000 new mini-pitches worldwide by 2031.
For Gelson Fernandes, Deputy Director of the Member Associations Division and Regional Director for Africa, the opening of the Talent Academy and the inauguration of the mini-pitch represent “a historic step for Djiboutian and African football. This will provide a prestigious setting to create new opportunities for Djiboutian boys and girls to thrive through football and, perhaps, play at the highest level. These projects are the result of in-depth work carried out by the FDF with FIFA’s full support, and we are very proud of that.”