The CEO Interglobe IEG on An Ivorian sports delegation on a prospecting trip to the United States

The African Cup of Nations trophy brilliantly won by Côte d’Ivoire during the last edition of the CAN has been in the United States since August 14, 2024, carried by the Minister Delegate to the PM in charge of sports and living conditions and the President of the FIF with a view to its presentation to the Ivorian and African diasporas.

On the sidelines of this tour, Minister Metch and his delegation visited the American University of Maryland on Thursday, August 15, 2024, known as an incubator for high-level athletes.

This visit, organized by Ambassador Ibrahima Touré, is part of sports diplomacy which aims to open spaces for cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States, in areas such as athletics, basketball and football.

The Ivorian delegation was thus entitled to visits to the sports infrastructures of the University of Maryland, the famous stadium of the American football team of the Washington Commanders and the football team of DC United. It had discussions with the leaders of these teams, organisation models and performances in the ecosystem of high-level sport in the USA.

During the working session held at the State Department in the Office of Education, culture and the Arts, the Minister praised the American experience in promoting sports, in particular the detection, training and supervision of athletes, which have made the USA the world reference in sports, as evidenced by the harvest of American athletes during the Paris Olympics.

The Minister stressed the vision and ambition of President Alassane OUATTARA, who intends to make Côte d’Ivoire, through investment in sports infrastructure, the training of athletes and trainers, a centre of sports influence in Africa and the world. Côte d’Ivoire, he insisted, intends to actively prepare for the next sporting events, including the next World Cup and the next Olympic Games in 2028, which will be held on American soil. To this end, it wishes to draw inspiration from the American model and establish partnerships with American universities and sports organizations.

The representative of the American Football Federation welcomed the victory of the CI at the CAN, highlighting the excellent work done by President Idriss DIALLO and said he was willing to strengthen the emerging cooperation between the FIF and the American Soccer Association.

The Ivorian delegation’s stay will continue with the presentation of the cup to the World Bank, the African Diplomatic Corps and friends of Côte d’Ivoire on August 16, then to the African diasporas on August 17 and 18 in Washington DC and New York.