FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström has praised the organisation, quality and overall standards of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), describing the tournament as a reflection of Africa’s growing football excellence.
Speaking during a roundtable with African journalists at the FIFA African Hub in Rabat on Thursday, Grafström said he had enjoyed watching several matches and was impressed by the level of organisation.
It’s been a privilege to watch a few games, and it’s been a great experience both organizationally and sportingly,” he said.
He singled out Morocco for its role as host, noting the country’s experience and preparedness in staging major international football events.
The tournament has really shown the experience of Morocco as a host for the Africa Cup of Nations, which is also good as they are hosting the FIFA Africa Hub Office,” Grafström added.
FIFA has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to African football development, emphasising collaboration with CAF, national associations and the media.
FIFA is here to invest, develop and work hand-in-hand with CAF, Member Associations and Media to make African football great,” Grafström said.
He also stressed the crucial role of the media in shaping football development across the continent, calling for openness and transparency in communication.
We can only get better by communicating openly and transparently our activities to the media. And this we can on the support of the media,” he added.
Also present at the roundtable was Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer, who highlighted FIFA’s investment in football infrastructure across Africa, particularly through the FIFA Forward Programme, which supports national associations in building facilities and resources.
Beyond infrastructure, Fernandes spoke of initiatives aimed at grassroots and elite development, including FIFA Football for Schools and the Women’s Football Strategy, which aim to promote inclusive and sustainable growth of the sport on the continent.
The discussions were part of a tour of the FIFA Africa Office, located at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé-Rabat. The facility, which opened in June last year, serves as a central hub for FIFA operations in Africa and joins similar offices in Paris, Miami and Jakarta, designed to strengthen local links with FIFA’s 211 Member Associations while supporting the global growth of football.
French 
English