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New FIFA president to visit Rwanda

Xinhua, March 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Newly elected Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, will visit Rwanda later this year, the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) announced Saturday.

The president of the federation Vincent Nzamwita told reporters that, the newly elected leader of the World soccer governing body plans to visit Rwanda during his maiden trip to some of the African nations.

"I was in Zurich, Switzerland last week for a meeting, and I happened to meet Mr. Infantino and he confirmed to me that Rwanda will be among countries in Africa he will visit this year. The FIFA was thrilled by Rwanda's sports development," Nzabamwita said.

FERWAFA boss said that Infantino was happy with the way he was hosted in Rwanda on his campaign trail during the Africa Nations' Championship (CHAN) in February.

"We had a lengthy meeting with the new FIFA President on wide range of issues related to football development in Rwanda," he noted.

Last month Infantino succeeded fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter as president of world football's governing body Fifa.

Blatter, who had led FIFA since 1998, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines.

Latest Fifa rankings put Rwanda on 91st position out of 126th worldwide in terms of professional football improvements.

Rwanda is now ranked 23rd on the African continent ahead of giants Togo, Angola and Malawi among others.

In East Africa, Rwanda ranks second after Uganda, Burundi (3rd) and 110th globally, Kenya (4th), and 101st, and Tanzania (last) and are 126th worldwide.

The small central African country last month hosted 2016 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).

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