The Secretary General of the wold Football governing body, FIFA is in Djibouti on an official visit.

Fatma Samoura together with her team arrived in Djibouti yesterday ahead of her meetings with several stakeholders including the Prime Minister Kanil Mohamed.

“This first working visit to Djibouti in my capacity as Secretary General of FIFA gives me the opportunity to meet the main players in Djibouti Football and to discuss with them the situation of football in Djibouti,” said the Samoura.

The FIFA Secretary General made it clear that she also wants to use the visit to advocate for increased financial support from the government of Djibouti and the private sector.

The other members who traveled together with Samoura includes; Sarai Bareman (Head of FIFA Women’s Football Division), Geraldine Heinen (Representative of the Member Associations Division of FIFA), Naoise King (Communications Officer of the Office of the FIFA Secretary General) and Cinzia Miotto (Personal Assistant to the FIFA Secretary General).

In September this year Samoura also visited the Member Associations of South Africa, Kenya and South Sudan.

The Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samoura has said she wants the number of women playing football in South Sudan to increase ten times than it is now by 2026.

Samoura arrived in South Sudan on Friday on a 2-day fact finding mission. She is accompanied by FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman.

The FIFA team arrived from Nairobi, Kenya where they graced the final of the CECAFA zonal qualifier of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League on Thursday.

“I am happy with the football developments am seeing in South Sudan. I would love to see the number of women playing football increase by ten times what it is today by 2026,” said Samoura.

She made it clear that women’s football is the world fastest growing sport today. “We need to keep finding new strategies and developing football around the world,” she added.

General Augustino Maduot Parek, the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President thanked Samoura for making time to visit South Sudan. “We are glad you are here to visit South Sudan and see how far we have gone and what we need to do to improve football in the country,” said the SSFA President.

She later visited the Juba National Stadium and watched a women’s football match at the Buluk training ground.

Samoura is expected to meet the South Sudan Minister of  Youth and Sports, Dr. Albino Bol today, before meeting other football stakeholders.

The Secretary General of FIFA, Fatma Samoura will grace the final of the final of CECAFA Zonal qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.

Doris Petra, the Vice President of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to Cecafaonline.

Home side Vihiga Queens FC and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia will face-off in the final on Thursday at the Nyayo Stadium. But before the final Simba Queens FC (Tanzania) will take on Uganda’s Lady Doves FC in the play-off to decide the third and fourth place.

Petra said on her two day visit, Samoura will be accompanied by  FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman. The FIFA Secretary General will also hold talks with football leadership in the country.

“This is a big week for us in the women’s game. Our clubs are taking part in regional and continental competition for the first time and we are pleased to share this moment with the Secretary General,” added Petra Doris.

The teams that have so far qualified for the inaugural TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League include; Wadi Degla SC (Hosts/2021 Egyptian Women League Champion), Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC (South Africa/COSAFA), AS FAR (Morocco/UNAF), AS Mande (Mali/WAFU I), Hasaacas Ladies FC (Ghana/WAFU II) and Rivers Angels FC (Nigeria/WAFU II). The CECAFA and UNIFFAC zones are yet to complete their qualifiers.