Bacary Sagna motivates young talent during a grassroots football visit to Ethiopia

Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has made an impactful visit to Ethiopia, leveraging his profile and experience to aid grassroots football development in Addis Ababa. The visit centered on direct engagement with young players and coaches, emphasizing the increasing significance of youth structures in the country.

Sagna visited Coach Sewenet Bisahaw’s Academy, under the guidance of the man renowned for leading Ethiopia back to the Africa Cup of Nations after a 31-year hiatus. He visited the 28 Meda Youth Football Project, where he observed training sessions and engaged closely with the young talents present.

During the visit, we exchanged words of encouragement and engaged in discussions with coaches regarding player development. For the young ones, it was an unforgettable experience and a unique chance to gain insights from a player who has played at the pinnacle of European football. The visit provided a significant enhancement to youth development initiatives in Ethiopian football and highlighted the influence that global football personalities can exert at the grassroots level.