FIFA President Gianni Infantino has praised Ghana’s approach to grassroots football and infrastructure development after holding talks with Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.The meeting, held on Tuesday, examined the progress of football development in Ghana and the potential for closer cooperation between FIFA and the GFA. Simeon-Okraku also serves as the 2nd Vice-President of CAF.The discussions come as Ghana continues efforts to
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has praised Ghanas approach to grassroots football and infrastructure development after holding talks with Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, examined the progress of football development in Ghana and the potential for closer cooperation between FIFA and the GFA. Simeon-Okraku also serves as the 2nd Vice-President of CAF.
The discussions come as Ghana continues efforts to strengthen the foundations of the game across different levels, with particular attention being paid to opportunities for young players and the development of football facilities.
Writing on his official Instagram account after the meeting, Infantino said the two sides had held football development talks and considered ways to build an even stronger base for the sport in Ghana.
The FIFA President singled out the GFAs work at grassroots level, along with its focus on infrastructure, as important factors behind recent advances in Ghanaian football.
President Okraku and his team understand the importance of grassroots and infrastructure development, and their work has helped Ghana take positive strides, President Infantino stated.
Infantino pointed to Ghanas recent qualification for the FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup as one sign of that progress. The tournament is due to begin this Saturday.
Ghana has also qualified for the FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup, which starts next month. The two achievements were cited by the FIFA president as evidence of the impact of the countrys continuing football development efforts.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Infantino to thank the GFA for its ongoing backing of FIFA and its commitment to growing the game. He described football as an important source of hope and opportunity for young people who aspire to pursue their dreams in the sport.
Following our productive meeting, I thanked everyone at the Ghana Football Association for their continued support and dedication to ensuring football remains a beacon of hope for everyone with a football dream in Ghana, he added.
The engagement between Infantino and Simeon-Okraku underlines the developing relationship between FIFA and the Ghana Football Association. The GFA is pursuing initiatives designed to expand access to football at grassroots level, improve infrastructure and create stronger foundations for the game throughout the country.
Infantinos comments also place emphasis on the connection between youth development and the wider progress of Ghanaian football. The countrys qualification for both the FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup and the FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup offers a platform for its young players while reflecting the outcomes of work being carried out across the game.
The meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich forms part of the continuing dialogue between the two organisations as Ghana seeks to increase opportunities for participation and development at various levels of football.
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