The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) and Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM) have signed a memorandum of understanding to focus on football governance and development.

The partnership agreement signed by the president of the two institutions, Mr. Ahmed Yahya and Mr. Fabrice Shema Ngoga on Thursday, January 22 at the headquarters of the Mauritanian Football Federation after a three-day working visit which started on January 20.

The agreement between the FERWAFA and FFRIM will focus on improving administrative leadership and governance, internal financial management, audit and evaluation procedures within both federations, technical development (i.e education of coaches, development of football academies), infrastructure development, training of referees, including for VAR technology, as well as the organization of friendly matches, notably for women’s football.

Other areas of partnership include; structuring and organizing national competitions (all categories combined), organizing international competitions and sporting events, developing strategic frameworks and target contracts binding the two federations to FIFA and CAF, digitalization, marketing and communication and exchange of best practices.

At the invitation of FFRIM President Yahya, the FERWAFA President Ngoga led a delegation composed of Richard Mugisha (2nd Vice President in charge of Technical Development), Nikita Gicanda Vervelde (Commissioner in charge of women's football), Célestin Ntagungira (President of the FERWAFA Ad Hoc Committee for the Five-Year Strategic Plan development), Bonnie Mugabe, (General Secretary),  Fidèle Kanamugire, (Commissioner in charge of Development) and Thierry Nshuti (commissioner in charge of finance and marketing). 

During the visit, the FERWAFA delegation participated in presentations by various departments of the Mauritanian Football Federation namely, SG office, DTN, Finance, Refereeing, Women's Football, Beach Soccer and Futsal, TV. The visit provided an in-depth exchange of organizational methods, mechanisms of action, and strategic projects of the federation.

This visit represents an important step in promoting institutional cooperation between the FERWAFA and FFRIM, based on sharing of experiences, best practices, and a common vision for football development.

The two parties also agreed to establish a framework and mechanisms for ongoing consultation and regular monitoring.

Additionally, both parties have mandated their respective administrations to monitor the implementation and execution of the various agreements reached.