Qatar Football Association
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) received in his office this afternoon Dr. François Albert Amichia, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the African Cup of Nations (COCAN) for the upcoming edition in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, and his accompanying delegation.
On the Qatari side, the reception was attended by Mr. Saoud Abdulaziz Al-Mohannadi, Vice-President of the QFA, Mr. Mansour Al-Ansari, General Secretary of the QFA, and Mr. Ali Dawood, Executive Director of the QFA President’s Office.
The Ivorian delegation is in Doha on a special visit to coordinate and cooperate with the QFA in preparing for the organisation of the African Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by the State of Cote d’Ivoire in January 2024, and to learn about the Qatari experience and the final arrangements of the country for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The visit also comes within the framework of the joint sports cooperation agreement Qatar and Cote d’Ivoire signed a while ago in the presence of the leaders of the two countries.
During the reception, a number of topics of common interest between the two sides were discussed, and the officials also talked about ways to enhance cooperation between the two parties and to move forward in developing bilateral relations with regard to football.
The two sides aim to invest and develop solid relations between them, to broader horizons of close cooperation and enhance ways of exchanging experiences and resources between them, while at the same time strengthening football development in both countries.
This morning, the Ivorian delegation visited the pavilion of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy at Al-Bidda Tower and was briefed on Qatar’s latest preparations to host the 2022 World Cup, its organisational expertise, and its enormous potential, while simulated models of stadiums and facilities, which demonstrate great legacy that football will leave, not only for Qatar but for the entire region.
The delegation also had a field visit, during which they inspected the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, and also visited the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. They were briefed on the modern world-class services it provides in developing youngsters in various sports disciplines, training them both academically and athletically. The visitors got acquainted with Aspire’s advanced facilities, which include the latest technologies used in the world of sport, and a football high-performance centre.