FIFA Appoints Gambian Technocrats To Oversee Talent Development In Nigeria And Other African Countries

FIFA Appoints Gambian Technocrats To Oversee Talent Development In Nigeria And Other African Countries

 Sampson Adedeji

World football governing body, FIFA, has appointed Gambian football technocrat Mattar M’Boge as the Senior Talent Identification Programme Manager for Africa under its High Performance Programme, BSNSports.com.ng reports 

The appointment, which was announced on Thursday, is part of FIFA’s ongoing drive to strengthen its talent development initiatives across the continent. M’Boge, a former coach of The Gambia U20 team, will work closely with FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, and other senior figures in the organisation.

According to FIFA, M’Boge will be responsible for designing and implementing a continental talent identification strategy, with a focus on discovering and nurturing young players in Africa, including Nigeria and other emerging football nations.

M’Boge’s mandate will include: Coordinating talent scouting programmes in partnership with member associations.

Supporting elite youth academies and grassroots football structures.

Helping federations establish modern pathways for young players to transition into professional football.

Reacting to his appointment, M’Boge expressed delight at the opportunity to contribute to African football development.

“I am honoured to take up this role with FIFA. Africa is blessed with incredible football talent, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to give young players the platform they deserve,” he said.

FIFA stated that the High Performance Programme aims to bridge the gap between grassroots football and elite competition, ensuring that the next generation of African stars receives proper technical and educational support.

With Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and other countries consistently producing top players for the global stage, FIFA hopes that M’Boge’s expertise will help standardise talent identification systems and create more opportunities for budding footballers across the continent.

This appointment is expected to further strengthen collaboration between FIFA and African football associations, with a clear objective of elevating the level of youth development and making Africa more competitive on the world stage.