FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino meets new FKF President Hussein Mohammed

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the newly elected Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed on the sidelines of the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech to discuss the future of football in Kenya. The meeting, which marked the beginning of a renewed collaboration, was attended by FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström and Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Regional Director for Africa Gelson Fernandes.

Infantino expressed his admiration for Mohammed’s passion and experience, saying, “President Mohammed’s love of the game and experience in football administration will enable him and his team to bring the sport forward. With plans for a new technical centre in Machakos and strong FKF participation in FIFA programmes, notably in women’s football, the desire and determination to progress on and off the pitch are clear in Kenya.”

President Mohammed outlined his vision to transform Kenyan football, with a focus on governance, infrastructure, and commercialisation. “The first priority is to restructure our federation and make sure that we have good governance structures. Accountability, integrity, and transparency are critical if we are to achieve those objectives,” Mohammed said. “The second thing is infrastructure development, which will lead to the successful commercialisation of the sport. Without the requisite infrastructure, we will not be able to develop the game to international levels and compete with other countries as we should.”

Kenya is gearing up for a historic role in African football, with plans to co-host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in February 2025 alongside Tanzania and Uganda. This marks the first time the tournament, which showcases players competing in domestic leagues, will be hosted by three nations. Additionally, the same trio will co-host the prestigious CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, another first for Africa’s flagship tournament.

Met FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Marrakech yesterday. We discussed governance, infrastructure, and growing Kenyan football, including women’s football. FIFA and FKF are planning a technical centre in Kenya, a key step in strengthening the game. Excited about what lies… pic.twitter.com/bcdttBhm3t

— Hussein Mohammed (@husseinmoha) December 17, 2024

Progress is already underway. Kenya recently hosted a FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management workshop in Nairobi, becoming only the second African country to do so. This initiative provided FKF Premier League clubs with crucial insights into professionalising football operations.

Women’s football remains a key area of focus in FIFA’s partnership with FKF. Following the unveiling of the FKF’s Women’s Football Strategy in 2021, FIFA has supported the growth of the women’s game in Kenya through its FIFA Women’s Football Development programmes. The construction of the new technical centre in Machakos is expected to further accelerate this development.

Infantino reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to supporting Kenyan football. “I congratulated President Mohammed on his recent election and assured him of mine and FIFA’s support as he takes on his new challenge of building Kenyan football,” he said. “The relationship and collaboration between FIFA and FKF will continue to flourish under the new leadership.”