Regional leaders convene in Nairobi as FIFA pushes for structured football development
By Joel Masibo, April 14, 2026Football administrators from across Southern and East Africa gathered in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for a high-level consultative meeting focused on the future of the game under the FIFA Forward Programme 4.0.
The session, hosted by the Football Kenya Federation, brought together presidents of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) member associations alongside several Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) leaders, in a forum that also included key FIFA officials.
The global body was represented by Gelson Fernández, who led the delegation in his capacity as Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Director for Africa.
Focus
The meeting centered on the implementation of FIFA Forward Programme 4.0, an initiative designed to enhance football development through structured and increased financial investment.
The programme targets key areas such as infrastructure development, capacity building within federations, support for national teams, and the strengthening of competitive structures.
According to the FKF President Hussein Mohammed, participants engaged in discussions on how the programme can be effectively rolled out across member associations, with an emphasis on accountability, sustainability, and measurable growth in African football.
Also present was Samson Adamu, the acting Secretary General of CAF, whose attendance underscored the importance of collaboration between continental and global football governing bodies.
”The programme focuses on advancing investments principle across infrastructure, capacity building, national team support and competitive development, with a commitment to delivering steady, scaled-up financial backing to member associations,” Mohammed said.
FIFA Series
The consultative meeting was held in Nairobi on the eve of the FIFA Series Finals, which are set to take place at the Nyayo National Stadium, where hosts, Kenya’s Harambee Starlets, will face the Matildas of Australia starting at 5:30 local time. The timing of the discussions highlights FIFA’s broader commitment to aligning development programmes with competitive opportunities on the ground.
Meanwhile, with increased funding and strategic oversight under the FIFA Forward Programme 4.0, stakeholders remain optimistic that African football will experience significant growth, both on and off the pitch.
This comes as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania prepare to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations jointly, as preparations are underway deliver a successful tournament in the East African region for the first time.