Wenger urges CAF to consider future generations

IN his address at Friday’s extraordinary general assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt, Arsène Wenger, Fifa’s chief of global development, told delegates that a biennial World Cup would ensure African teams enjoy greater exposure to top class competition.

The former Arsenal manager Wenger had accompanied Fifa president Gianni Infantino to the meeting in Cairo.

Wenger’s address focussed on the advantages of a World Cup every two years, instead of every four years. He also wanted feedback on delegates’ thoughts on the International Match Calendar (IMC).

“It is important that you have access to top level competitions, more often,” said Wenger.

“You should often have access to compete at the top level. It is a huge contributor to improvement. I defend this project because it is to make football better and more competitive.”

Wenger outlined the need for youth tournaments which he said would benefit the national teams. If the World Cup tournaments for men and women were held every two years, it would boost African football significantly.

After listening to the Frenchman’s presentations, CAF presented a resolution at the general assembly.

It read: “CAF welcomes the Fifa Congress decision to conduct a feasibility study on hosting men’s and women’s Fifa World Cups every two years.

“If the Fifa study concludes it is feasible, CAF will fully support hosting the men’s and women’s Fifa World Cup every two years.”

Infantino assured delegates that Fifa would support African football. It will also continue its effort to raise a billion dollars to grow football on the Mother Continent.

“We are more committed than ever to making sure that we obtain these $1 billion for the investment in infrastructure in African football because this is what African football deserves,” said Infantino.

“This is the year of collaboration, of partnership, of unity between us. We have committed to that; we have committed to invest in infrastructure in Africa.

“We need to protect football, and we need to make sure that football remains relevant for our young generation. And I would say particularly in a continent like Africa, where 40% of the population is below 15 years of age,” he said.

“We need to think about the future. We need to think about how we can make our sport more enthusing, more relevant for the young generation, which today has many other things to focus on.”