Rwanda is hosting the 73^rd FIFA Congress, the supreme legislative body of FIFA, that kicked off on March 13 to 17th in Kigali, bringing together about 2,000 delegates from 211 affiliated associations and other football stakeholders.

The event will focus on a range of issues facing football, including governance, ethics, and the development of the sport at all levels. The current FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, who is the only candidate on the post of leading the world football governing body, is also expected to seek re-election in the congress.

This year’s congress is the latest of the many sports events and tournaments that the country hosted, as it positions itself to be a sports hub on the African continent.

The country hosted the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tours for both men and women in July 2021, Afrobasket in 2021, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2021 and 2022.

Kigali was also the third African country to host the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, attracting nearly 2,000 athletes from 20 countries. Rwanda has also won the bid to host the 2025 World Road Cycling Championships, the first time it will be held on the African continent.

President Kagame awarded for his contribution in football development in Africa

On the sidelines of the ongoing FIFA Congress, on March 14 the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe awarded President Paul Kagame and King Mohammed IV of Morocco the Outstanding Achievement award in recognition of their contributions in advancing African football. King Mohammed was represented by Moroccan Minister of Education and Sports Chakib Benmoussa.

The award was handed over by both Dr Motsepe and FIFA president Gianni Infantino in an event attended by Rwanda’s sports officials, CAF executive committee, CAF member association presidents and other prominent football figures from across the continent.

Upon receiving the award, President Kagame appreciated the recognition and highlighted that sports has been a uniting force in Rwanda before and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"One of the things that people clung to that kept bringing us together was sports, and particularly football," he said, adding that “When we took over after that situation, one of the things we invested in football for our young people to be able to play it.”