FBF: Marcellin Bocovè sets out his first priorities after election

Marcellin Bocovè has already identified the first priorities of his term at the head of the Beninese Football Federation (FBF). Just hours after his election, the new president stressed the need to act quickly on national competitions, youth training and the functioning of the federation’s administration.

Running as the only candidate at the head of the consensus list “Ensemble, visons plus haut”, he received 76 favourable votes out of 79 voters, with one vote against and two abstentions. He succeeds Mathurin de Chacus, who had led the federation since 2018 and was completing his second term.

After the vote, Marcellin Bocovè first expressed a sense of “responsibility” and “gratitude” toward Beninese football stakeholders. He notably paid tribute to the work done by his predecessor over the past eight years and praised state support, especially in the development of infrastructure, the increase in subsidies and support for the various national teams.

The new president also highlights the consensual nature of the elected executive committee. The single list emerged from the rapprochement of the two camps that had initially fielded separate candidacies before merging their teams. For Marcellin Bocovè, this configuration now brings together several currents that have shaped Beninese football in recent years.

Competitions, training centres and federation administration

The first urgent task is the resumption of national competitions. While Beninese football is in the off-season, the new executive committee wants to respect the calendar set by the federation and ensure the start of the different championships.

The second project concerns training. Marcellin Bocovè refers to three youth centres that now need to be fully operational. His aim is to better organise the pathway of players hosted in these structures, from scouting to their progression toward top-level football.

For the new FBF president, improving international results requires a change in approach to youth development. He wants to “turn the pyramid upside down”, first broadening the base of participants and spotting talent early enough to give it structured support.

The ambition is to have, by the age of 17 or 18, players sufficiently trained to compete at the highest level. This strategy is meant to gradually feed the various national teams and increase the number of players capable of making an impact in international competitions.

The third priority concerns the federation’s administration. Marcellin Bocovè acknowledges that its functioning has faced difficulties in recent years and announces a reform aimed at making it more effective. He points in particular to the definition of precise duties and the setting up of work plans to better monitor the activity of the different departments.

These orientations echo several commitments defended by the “Ensemble, visons plus haut” list during the electoral process: better competitions, support for clubs, development of women’s football, youth training and continued professionalisation of Beninese football.

Beyond structural reforms, expectations around the national teams remain high. The new president recognises that supporters mainly want to see the Cheetahs and the Amazons deliver better results and move closer to continental and international podiums.

Marcellin Bocovè nevertheless believes lasting results will take time, especially in training. In the immediate term, his team also intends to identify reforms that could quickly improve the performances of the various selections.

Elected for the 2026-2030 term, Marcellin Bocovè leads a 21-member executive committee, with Sylvain Lawson as first vice-president and seven other vice-presidents drawn from the different groups involved in the electoral process.