AFCON: Europe's contribution to African football development

Cameroon
In collaboration with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), we organised a 12-team under-17 development tournament in Antalya in March 2019. Featuring eight teams from Africa, three from Europe, and Australia, the tournament allowed elite youth players to experience other cultures and styles of football, preparing them for the 2019 Under-17 World Cup, but also life as senior international footballers. Its success led to a second eight-team tournament in September 2019.

Burkina Faso
Between October 2020 and June 2021, UEFA staged a series of online marketing workshops for CAF member associations. The webinars helped marketing officers develop their strategy and create dedicated development plans, as well as sharing case studies from UEFA members Czech Republic, Gibraltar and Norway, and best practices on branding, social networking and sponsorship, with a special focus on women's football.

Cape Verde
As well as benefiting from the online marketing workshops described above, social training programmes have also been delivered for the Cape Verde FA between 2019 and 2020 by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), which has focused much of its on-going knowledge-sharing work in Portuguese-speaking nations.

Ethiopia
UEFA Assist funding helped cement a partnership between Ethiopia and the Israel Football Association (IFA), with a focus on technical development. A memorandum of understanding was signed before the partnership kicked off with two men's under-17 international friendly matches, staged in June 2021.

Guinea
Guinea were one of eight African teams to take part in the 12-team UEFA Assist under-17 development tournament staged in Turkey in March 2019. Their young players were able to face a variety of opposition from Europe and Australia, preparing them for that year's Under-17 World Cup, and, further ahead, senior international football. The tournament also brought an opportunity for coaches to further their experience and exposure to different styles of play.

Malawi
The English Football Association used UEFA Assist funding to donate football equipment to Malawi.

Senegal
Like Guinea, Senegal also played in the under-17 development tournament in Turkey in March 2019.

Zimbabwe
Thanks to UEFA Assist funding, the Zimbabwean Football Association was able to purchase a minivan in April 2021 – a fundamental tool first used for the transportation of coaching officials and participating children during grassroots festivals and workshops.

Comoros
Comoros took part in the UEFA Academy General Secretary programme in Maputo, Mozambique in April 2021. The five-day programme allowed African general secretaries to compare and address the practical issues they face, providing them with the tools to help improve all areas of the association's day-to-day performance.

Gabon
Between February and December 2021, the Assist team supported the on-going professionalisation of Gabon's league organisation and its top-division clubs, paving the way for long-term and sustainable development in the country. The most recent activity included face-to-face seminars in Gabon, led by the Assist team.

Ghana
The UEFA Assist team staged an inaugural Football For Women programme in Ghana in December 2021. The five-day event was created to help the national association develop women's roles in all areas of football, both on and off the pitch. A comprehensive range of workshops showcased how to implement effective governance structures to grow women’s football and increase awareness and participation. The workshop also demonstrated how to promote, professionalise and commercialise women's football.

Morocco
Morocco was one of the eight African nations involved in the under-17 development tournament in Turkey in March 2019.

Egypt

The Egyptian FA's marketing director attended a series of online workshops in late 2020 to help improve their strategy and marketing plans.

Guinea-Bissau
UEFA Assist funding has facilitated the purchase of a minivan for the Guinea-Bissau FA, providing invaluable transport for grassroots footballers and coaches.

Nigeria
Having attended the original UEFA Academy General Secretary programme in Ethiopia in 2018, Nigeria's general secretary followed up the experience with a three-day online programme in February 2021. The follow-up programme reviewed many of the original themes, with an added focus on governance and administration, sponsorship and marketing, league professionalisation, club licensing, women's football development and financial management.

Sudan
Thanks to UEFA Assist funding, in July 2021 the Sudanese FA was able to purchase vital equipment for its medical centre.

Algeria
Algeria took part in a UEFA Under-16 development tournament hosted by the Albanian FA in February 2020. There, they were able to test their skills against the hosts, Georgia and Lithuania, exposing them and their team of coaches to different styles of play.

Equatorial Guinea
Like Algeria, the Equatorial Guinea FA's staff attended the 2020 and 2021 workshops to help develop effective marketing strategies and plans.

Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast were participants in the first UEFA Academy general secretary workshops in Casablanca in 2018. The programme is designed to bring general secretaries together to discuss the issues and challenges they face in their roles, working together to gain the tools to help improve all areas of the association's day-to-day performance.

Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone were participants at the UEFA Academy General Secretary programme in Maputo, Mozambique in April 2021. The five-day programme allowed African national association general secretaries to compare and address the practical issues they face, providing them with the tools to help improve all areas of the association's day-to-day performance.

Gambia
UEFA Assist staff visited local football festivals in Gambia in spring 2021, delivering women's football development programmes to coaches and teachers in all seven regions of the country.

Mali
Malian FA representatives also attended the UEFA Assist and CAF online marketing workshops in late 2020 and 2021. The programme helped attendees develop effective marketing strategies and plans to keep the association moving forwards off the pitch.

Mauritania
Mauritania were among the first group of participants in the UEFA General Secretary programme in 2018, which brought together general secretaries from across African associations to discuss issues they face in their roles and provide them with access to the UEFA Toolbox in Football Management -one of the practical tools to help improve day-to-day organisational performance.

Tunisia
Like Mauritania, Tunisia's general secretary benefited from UEFA Academy guidance and workshops in Casablanca in 2018.