More Than 800 Children To Escort Africa’s Football Stars Onto The Field During The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup Of Nations, Cote D’Ivoire 2023: VISA PLAYER ESCORT PROGRAM REALISES DREAM FOR IVORIANS CHILDREN.
As the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 tournament progresses to the knockout stages, it’s not just the continent’s top footballers gearing up for the next phase; children from across Cote d’Ivoire are also getting the chance to shine, thanks to Visa’s Player Escort program.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments and the selected digital payment provider for the tournament, has joined forces with various partners, including financial institutions, football federations, community partners, and NGOs.
Collectively, they have chosen over 800 boys and girls, aged 9 to 13, to accompany some of the world’s top football players onto the pitch during the games.
“Visa is proud to be a supporter of the Africa Cup of Nations, a celebration of Africa’s vibrant football heritage and passion. Our Player Escort Programme is crafted to fuel the passion of young enthusiasts and nurture their love for football, creating memories that will last a lifetime. We are excited to provide these budding stars with a once-in-a-lifetime experience and to highlight the unifying power and spirit of football,” said Aida Diarra, Senior Vice-President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa.
So far, 500 children have had the exhilarating experience of stepping onto the AFCON pitch alongside their football heroes during the Group Stage.
The tournament’s opening game was particularly special, featuring 22 children from families hailing from three cocoa-producing regions – Agboville, Abengourou, and Aboisso.
Their parents are part of the pilot phase of a national traceability system for coffee and cocoa, a project initiated by the Cocoa Coffee Council of Côte d’Ivoire, Panelys, and Visa. This project aims to offer end-to-end digital financial traceability solutions to over 700,000 cocoa farmers in the region.
“During the start of the tournament, we have already seen how AFCON 2023 is inspiring a new generation of future football fans across Côte d’Ivoire, and we are delighted to be able to partner with Visa on the Player Escort Program,” said Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of the Ivorian Federation of Football.
“Having the opportunity to walk on the pitch alongside their idols will bring special memories to last a lifetime for more than 800 young Ivorians, providing a truly unique experience that will help strengthen passion for the game throughout the country.”
Other children involved in the program were carefully selected from a variety of sources. These include the academies and training camps of the Ivorian Football Federation, an educational institution managed by the Foundation Magic System NGO, children of Visa employees, and young ones related to Visa’s banking and fintech customers.
The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, Côte d’Ivoire 2023 tournament is hosting 24 teams playing 52 matches across six stadiums, with Visa facilitating digital payment technology at all venues and for tickets purchased both in-person and online.
In October, Visa announced the extension of its partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), now encompassing all AFCON tournaments until 2026.
This extended partnership will, for the first time, include the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the African High Schools tournament, and the integration of Visa products and services in all of CAF’s operations.
Source: Techeconomy
