Infantino explains why FIFA opened regional office in Ethiopia

Gianni Infantino

Friday Feb 15, 2019. 15:00

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has opened a regional office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This is the third African regional office after Dakar in Senegal and Johannesburg in South Africa which were opened in 2018.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Goal in an interview that the global governing body is serious about developing football in East Africa.

“It feels very good because it’s another step in the right direction showing that Fifa wants to be at the service of football," Infantino said.

"The office in Addis Ababa shows that we are serious to develop football in the region."

Other FIFA regional development offices already established in India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Senegal, Barbados, and United Arab Emirates.

Infantino is set to serve a second term as FIFA president after being the only candidate entered in June's election.

The Swiss-Italian football administrator succeeded Sepp Blatter as the head of world football's governing body in February 2016.