As he marks ten years in office, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has singled out Ghana as one of the Member Associations that have maximised support from world football’s governing body to drive development and competitive success.

In an exclusive statement focused on Ghana, Infantino commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for its strategic use of the FIFA Forward and other FIFA support programmes, highlighting significant infrastructure growth, women’s football development, and consistent World Cup qualification.

“Ghana has been one of the Member Associations who have made excellent use of the FIFA Forward and other FIFA Support Programmes over the years.

Infrastructure Boost at Ghanaman Centre

Infantino pointed to tangible improvements at the GFA’s technical facilities, particularly the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram, which has undergone major upgrades in recent years.

“The national technical centre, Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence, now has new floodlights, a 30-bed accommodation for teams and two new pitches (artificial and natural turf).

He also referenced expanded development beyond the southern belt of the country:

“Another technical centre has been inaugurated in Winkogo, in northern part of the country. Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has been working hard to ensure increased participation, especially among women, and with help from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme.”

The inauguration of the Winkogo Technical Centre marks a significant step toward decentralising football development and providing opportunities in northern Ghana.

Women’s Football Acceleration

Women’s football was another key area highlighted by the FIFA President, with the Black Queens’ return to continental competition cited as evidence of progress.

“Women’s Football has been accelerated with support from FIFA for the National Women’s League, which has played a pivotal role in the Black Queens’ qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 and in 2026”

The investment into the domestic women’s league structure has been crucial in strengthening the talent pipeline and enhancing competitiveness at the national level.

Back-to-Back World Cup Qualifications

On the men’s side, Infantino praised Ghana’s consistency on the global stage, referencing successive FIFA World Cup qualifications.

“Another impressive result has been the successive qualification of the men’s senior national team to the FIFA World Cup, first in Qatar in 2022 and now Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer.”

Ghana featured at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and have secured qualification for the 2026 tournament to be hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Infantino’s remarks underscore Ghana’s standing within FIFA’s development framework and reflect the impact of structured investment in infrastructure, grassroots programmes and women’s football over the past decade.

As the FIFA President celebrates a decade at the helm, Ghana’s progress serves as one of the African case studies in leveraging global support to achieve both developmental and competitive milestones.

Source: Ghanasoccernet