Samoura: Nigeria Can Lead Africa in Sports Development

Fatma Samoura, who served as FIFA Secretary-General from 2016, expressed her belief that Nigeria has the potential to become Africa's sporting hub. Drawing from her extensive experience in international development and football, she highlighted the importance of leadership, diversity, and engagement in transforming institutions.

Samoura noted that while Africa possesses immense sporting talent and passionate fans, it faces significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure and weak commercial ecosystems. She pointed out that the lack of quality training facilities, access to sports science, and clear pathways from grassroots to professional sports hinder talent development.

Samoura is now involved with ACG, which focuses on creating sport and entertainment districts that operate year-round, combining various sectors to foster a sustainable sporting environment. She emphasized that Africa must create conditions that allow its talent to thrive and generate value locally.