Former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura Joins ACG Advisory Board to Support Africa’s Sport and Entertainment Development
By Antara Tripathy, IBG NEWS
London, September 3, 2026: African Collaborations Group (ACG), a strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on developing integrated sport and entertainment ecosystems across Africa, has appointed Fatma Samoura to its Advisory Board.
Samoura, who served as FIFA Secretary General from 2016 to 2023, brings more than three decades of international experience spanning sports administration, development, humanitarian affairs and global governance. Her appointment is expected to strengthen ACG’s strategic expertise as the organisation works on large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.
During her tenure at FIFA, Samoura made history as the first woman and first non-European to serve as the organisation’s Secretary General. She was involved in FIFA’s global administration and institutional operations, including the delivery of major international football tournaments. Her responsibilities also covered governance, member-association services and international development initiatives.
Before joining FIFA, Samoura spent more than 21 years with the United Nations, holding senior positions associated with humanitarian and development operations. Her career included work with organisations such as the World Food Programme, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Her assignments took her across several regions, including Africa, Central and South America and Asia.
Samoura has also served as a member of the Senate of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) since 2022, adding further experience in international sports governance and motor-sport administration.
Strategic Expertise for Africa’s Emerging Sports Economy
According to ACG, Samoura’s international experience across sports governing institutions, governments, national federations and development organisations will contribute to the organisation’s efforts to structure commercially viable sport and entertainment districts.
ACG is developing a model that moves beyond conventional single-stadium projects. Its approach centres on mixed-use districts combining sporting infrastructure with entertainment, commercial activity and other revenue-generating components, with the objective of creating financially sustainable ecosystems.
Commenting on the appointment, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG, described Samoura’s experience in international sport and institutional leadership as an important addition to the organisation’s Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board is intended to provide strategic direction as ACG brings together governments, public-private partnership authorities, development finance institutions, investors, developers, infrastructure specialists, sporting bodies, event organisers, media organisations and other stakeholders.
Building Integrated Sport and Entertainment Ecosystems
ACG says Africa’s growing sports economy presents significant opportunities but also faces an infrastructure gap, particularly in the development of integrated districts capable of supporting sporting, commercial and entertainment activities.
Its collaboration-based model seeks to connect stakeholders from the early concept stage through feasibility assessment, project structuring, bankability and eventual implementation.
The organisation is positioning these projects as broader economic-development platforms rather than simply venues for sporting events. Such districts could potentially bring together sports facilities, entertainment infrastructure, commercial activities, investment opportunities and community participation within a coordinated development framework.
With Fatma Samoura joining its Advisory Board, ACG gains an experienced international sports administrator at a time when African countries are seeking to expand their sporting infrastructure, strengthen sports-related investment and develop the wider economic potential of the continent’s sports and entertainment sectors.
— Antara Tripathy, IBG NEWSFormer FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura Joins ACG Advisory Board to Support Africa’s Sport and Entertainment Development
By Antara Tripathy, IBG NEWS
London, September 3, 2026: African Collaborations Group (ACG), a strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on developing integrated sport and entertainment ecosystems across Africa, has appointed Fatma Samoura to its Advisory Board.
Samoura, who served as FIFA Secretary General from 2016 to 2023, brings more than three decades of international experience spanning sports administration, development, humanitarian affairs and global governance. Her appointment is expected to strengthen ACG’s strategic expertise as the organisation works on large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.
During her tenure at FIFA, Samoura made history as the first woman and first non-European to serve as the organisation’s Secretary General. She was involved in FIFA’s global administration and institutional operations, including the delivery of major international football tournaments. Her responsibilities also covered governance, member-association services and international development initiatives.
Before joining FIFA, Samoura spent more than 21 years with the United Nations, holding senior positions associated with humanitarian and development operations. Her career included work with organisations such as the World Food Programme, United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Her assignments took her across several regions, including Africa, Central and South America and Asia.
Samoura has also served as a member of the Senate of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) since 2022, adding further experience in international sports governance and motor-sport administration.
Strategic Expertise for Africa’s Emerging Sports Economy
According to ACG, Samoura’s international experience across sports governing institutions, governments, national federations and development organisations will contribute to the organisation’s efforts to structure commercially viable sport and entertainment districts.
ACG is developing a model that moves beyond conventional single-stadium projects. Its approach centres on mixed-use districts combining sporting infrastructure with entertainment, commercial activity and other revenue-generating components, with the objective of creating financially sustainable ecosystems.
Commenting on the appointment, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG, described Samoura’s experience in international sport and institutional leadership as an important addition to the organisation’s Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board is intended to provide strategic direction as ACG brings together governments, public-private partnership authorities, development finance institutions, investors, developers, infrastructure specialists, sporting bodies, event organisers, media organisations and other stakeholders.
Building Integrated Sport and Entertainment Ecosystems
ACG says Africa’s growing sports economy presents significant opportunities but also faces an infrastructure gap, particularly in the development of integrated districts capable of supporting sporting, commercial and entertainment activities.
Its collaboration-based model seeks to connect stakeholders from the early concept stage through feasibility assessment, project structuring, bankability and eventual implementation.
The organisation is positioning these projects as broader economic-development platforms rather than simply venues for sporting events. Such districts could potentially bring together sports facilities, entertainment infrastructure, commercial activities, investment opportunities and community participation within a coordinated development framework.
With Fatma Samoura joining its Advisory Board, ACG gains an experienced international sports administrator at a time when African countries are seeking to expand their sporting infrastructure, strengthen sports-related investment and develop the wider economic potential of the continent’s sports and entertainment sectors.
— Antara Tripathy, IBG NEWS
