26 March 2024 – South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan met with the FIFA head of membership on the African continent, Gelson Fernandes, in Algiers, Algeria, on Tuesday.
Dr Jordaan is in Algeria with Bafana Bafana and coach Hugo Broos’ charges are participating in the FIFA Series in an event that also includes Bolivia, Andorra and the North African hosts.
The SAFA President said the meeting with the former Swiss international midfielder was very successful and they covered wide ranging matters.
“It was a very constructive meeting, and I am very happy with FIFA’s position on this tournament,” Dr Jordaan said. “We also discussed national team support in tournaments, training camps overseas, Regional Associations subvention, Technical Centre upgrades and equipment for women football teams.” They further agreed that the current concept of the FIFA mini-series is to be welcomed.
“From our side, the FIFA series has been implemented for the first time following the FIFA Council’s decision to do so. It is with pleasure that we have South Africa here, and they could play against Andorra and Algeria too,” Fernandes said.
“African national teams have often found it difficult to play against opposition outside our own continent because of match schedules and commercial reasons,” the SAFA President continued. “We agreed that this concept must be further developed.”
Fernandes will have a further meeting with SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao later on Tuesday before Bafana Bafana’s match against the Algerians.