The victory of Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations is not a fluke but the product of deliberate, long-term investment in football infrastructure, systems, and governance, according to a leading sports infrastructure expert, Ebi Egbe.
Egbe, the Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Limited, said Senegal has distinguished itself as the only country in West Africa that consistently treats football as a complete ecosystem rather than merely a national team project.
In a statement, Egbe noted that Senegal’s sustained success is anchored on years of strategic planning, including standardized training centres, elite academies, modern stadiums, technical development hubs, and well-structured youth development pipelines.
“Senegal built the foundation first, and the results are now speaking loudly on the continental stage,” he said. “What we are witnessing today is a clear return on infrastructure.”
He contrasted Senegal’s approach with that of many West African countries, Nigeria inclusive, which he said have relied excessively on raw talent, foreign exposure, and last-minute tournament preparations, while paying insufficient attention to the science and structure of football development.
Egbe stressed that while talent is essential, it has limitations when not supported by strong systems and facilities.
“Talent without infrastructure has a ceiling. Infrastructure without sentiment delivers sustained success,” he said.
He congratulated Senegal on their AFCON 2025 triumph, describing the achievement as a lesson for African football administrators on the importance of long-term planning and investment.
