FIFA Research Scholarship awarded to ICSSPE Sport Science Research Manager

ICSSPE'S Sport Science Research Manager, Dr. Pascal Camara, has been awarded the FIFA Research Scholarship 2026 recognising outstanding contributions and potential in football-related research. His research will focus on investigating the governance, management and organisation of a local football competition “Nawettan” in The Gambia.

 

The FIFA Research Scholarship, which is managed by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), is awarded to a select group of researchers worldwide following a competitive evaluation process. Projects are assessed on scientific merit, relevance to football, and potential impact on the sport’s future development.

 

Speaking on the award, Pascal said “I wish to thank CIES and ICSSPE for this opportunity to contribute to a deeper understanding of context-specific manifestations of football through the Nawettan competitions. I look forward to engaging stakeholders in and outside academia on topics of both local and global significance such as emigration, belonging and sustainability.”

 

The research supported by the scholarship will be conducted over one year, with findings expected to provide practical insights for administrators, policymakers and researchers within the football ecosystem in The Gambia and beyond.