The President, Federation of International Football Associations, Gianni Infantino, has complimented the Mauritania football federation and its President, Ahmed Yahya, as well as Confederation of African Football for staging youth football competition amid the ongoing Coronavirus Disease crisis.
Infantino stated this during the inauguration of the new Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou in Mauritania.
The FIFA boss is in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the first stop on an itinerary that will see him visit FIFA member associations in several African countries along with heads of state and African Union Chairperson, Félix Tshisekedi, over the coming days.
“We have enjoyed some impressive youth football in a modern and well-equipped stadium, which is a very good and concrete example of how FIFA Forward funds are used to develop football all over the world, and particularly in Africa,” the FIFA President said.
“FIFA is very proud that the FIFA Forward programme was used to invest in the new Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou, which is an excellent setting for the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations.”
President of the Mauritanian Football Federation, Ahmed Yahya, said, “The stadium and the technical centre are important facilities for the development of football in Mauritania, and I would like to thank FIFA for helping to make this project come to life through FIFA Forward,”
Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou, along with Nouakchott’s Cheikh Boidiya Stadium and Stade Olympique, hosts the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, from February 14 to March 6, 2021. In staging the event, CAF also benefitted from FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund support with funding provided for the maintenance and running of stadiums, as well as training of referees and security officers for tournaments.
