By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 13 November 2025 — President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh on Thursday inaugurated the Djibouti Football Academy of Excellence in Douda, marking a milestone for the nation’s sports development and youth empowerment.
The project, completed in partnership with FIFA, is designed to train and educate promising young footballers from across the country.
The grand inauguration ceremony in Djibouti City brought together key figures from Djibouti’s political and sports leadership, including Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, National Assembly President Dileita Mohamed Dileita, and Souleiman Hassan Waberi, President of the Djibouti Football Federation (FDF) and member of the FIFA Council, alongside senior FIFA representatives.
Built over four years, the state-of-the-art academy features two synthetic turf pitches, separate dormitories for boys and girls, a nursery, a gym, and modern catering and study facilities.
The first cohort of 40 young players — including 20 girls — has already begun its academic and athletic training program, combining formal education with professional-level football instruction.
President Guelleh praised the project as “a significant step forward” for Djibouti’s sporting future, saying it would help the country “discover and nurture talents capable of excelling on the continental and international stages.”
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“I am proud that our country now has such an infrastructure,” President Guelleh said. He expressed gratitude to FIFA for its support, noting that the academy would “contribute to the well-being and growth of Djibouti’s youth.”
FDF President Souleiman Hassan Waberi emphasized that the academy’s primary mission is to identify, train, and guide young athletes to provide them with high-level skills and international opportunities.
“This structure will play a major role in promoting and advancing Djiboutian football,” he said.
The Douda Football Academy of Excellence is the second “Talent Academy” inaugurated by FIFA in Africa, part of a global program to develop young football players regardless of their social background.
The initiative underscores Djibouti’s growing commitment to youth development and sports excellence, positioning the country as an emerging hub for football talent in the Horn of Africa.
