Gianni Infantino holds discussions with counterpart from the SLFA
President Thomas Brima provides an update on his country’s progress in the women’s game
The meeting took place in FIFA’s Paris bureau, France
The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has travelled to Paris to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to provide an update on the remarkable progress made on women’s football development, and to identify further collaboration opportunities with FIFA in the future. Women’s football in Sierra Leone entered an exciting new era in October 2022, as the country’s Women's Premier League kicked off. More than three years had passed since Sierra Leone last had a women’s league in operation, when it was only a regional competition. The inauguration of the new competition meant that the African nation’s top 12 women’s teams would face each other home and away and fight it out for the right to become Sierra Leonean champions – a project made possible by FIFA Forward funding.
President Infantino said: “At FIFA we are committed developing football at all levels, and in every corner of the world. To hear the reports of the great work being carried out in Sierra Leone to ensure that women and girls across the country can have access to football, and can aspire to be the next football star, fills me with joy. The launch of the Women’s Premier League is a perfect example of what the FIFA Forward programme is for, and it was great to meet with President Brima in Paris to learn more about the progress they are making.” Speaking after the meeting, President Brima also spoke of his organisation’s willingness to further engage the FIFA Forward programme, which moves into its next phase in 2023 – as FIFA honours its commitment to bolster funding by almost 30%,, compared to the previous four-year cycle. “We are working with the Forward [Programme] Funds to develop infrastructure and the good thing is that, I’ve just got the confirmation, FIFA is going to help us with infrastructure, through the Forward Funds,” he said. “On our end, we are trying to play whatever tournaments we can. Last year, we played all FIFA and CAF-sanctioned tournaments. That is to say, we are making moves in the right direction.”
FIFA remains committed to the sustainable growth of women’s football by achieving its women’s football key objectives:
Grow participation
FIFA’s objective is to promote football across all 211 member associations, which includes creating opportunities for girls and women in areas where football is not played, as well as improving and increasing the playing opportunities and quality in areas where women already take to the pitch every single day.
Enhance the Commercial Value
FIFA’s ability to develop the game depends on its effectiveness to commercialise its competitions.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 was the first edition with an innovative and independent commercial model, providing a solid basis for enhancing the commercial value of women’s football.
Build the Foundations
As FIFA works to grow female participation in football and enhance the associated commercial benefits, we will build upon the current foundations to effectively govern and regulate a more sophisticated women’s football ecosystem.