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UEFA President visits Bosnia and Herzegovina

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has described the opening of the new Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation (NFSBiH) headquarters as "a great step in the development of football in the country".

Aleksander Čeferin and Elvedin Begić after opening the new NFSBiH premises
Aleksander Čeferin and Elvedin Begić after opening the new NFSBiH premises ©NFSBiH

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend the official opening of the new headquarters of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation (NFSBiH).

The opening ceremony in the capital Sarajevo was attended by representatives of the Bosnia and Herzegovina and international football communities, as well as senior government officials including the representative of the country's presidency, Šefik Džaferović, and the chairman of the council of ministers, Denis Zvizdić.

The new NFSBiH headquarters in Sarajevo
The new NFSBiH headquarters in Sarajevo©NFSBiH

The new NFSBiH premises were built with the help of funding from UEFA's HatTrick assistance programme. They will provide the association's staff with the best possible working environment to implement various development strategies in the coming period, which are expected to have a positive impact on football in Bosnia and Herzegovina for years to come.

"It is a privilege and pleasure for me to be here today," said Mr Čeferin. "I am glad that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be richer for this new sports facility – this is a great step in the development of football in the country."

Aleksander Čeferin addresses the ceremony
Aleksander Čeferin addresses the ceremony©NFSBiH

The UEFA President said that UEFA would continue to foster its relationship with the association, and to deliver crucial sporting and infrastructure support. "Football teaches us team work," he said.

"UEFA will remain a reliable partner to the Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation, and I hope that future projects will continue this infrastructure development."

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Džeko applauds fans after his team's UEFA Nations League promotion
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Džeko applauds fans after his team's UEFA Nations League promotion©Getty Images

Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team have just enjoyed a successful UEFA Nations League campaign, gaining promotion to League A after going unbeaten through their group stage fixtures.

"[Bosnia and Herzegovina] have caught up with the elite thanks to their dedicated work," said Mr Čeferin. "The success is also due to the quality of the work undertaken with the younger categories of players."

NFSBiH president Elvedin Begić said that steady development work was taking the association forward into a new era of stability. "This has been rewarded through the promotion of the senior national team to the highest reaches of the UEFA Nations League," he reflected, "and today through the official opening of our Home of Football."

Mr Begić expressed his gratitude for the support given by UEFA and the world body FIFA. "It means a lot to us, and we will not betray their expectations and trust," he said.

"We will leave this building to the generations behind us as a testimony to times of good and transparent management – times of reform and changes, success, courage and visions."