On his maiden visit to Africa as FIFA President, Gianni Infantino was in South Sudan on Wednesday afternoon where he did commit to developing the game of football in the war torn state.

Infantino was speaking at the official inauguration of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) offices in the capital Juba.

“There is a lot of work to be done; it is not at the standard that it has to be. South Sudan is one of my key elements in my campaign and program to help develop football. We will come up with something concrete that people of South Sudan will be proud of”

Infantino was  the chief guest of at South Sudan’s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Benin on Wednesday where the hosts lost 1-2 to the visitors.

Officials dressed Infantino in traditional robes and made him dance before later presenting him with a cake to celebrate his 46th birthday.

“It is a great pleasure for me to be here today in Juba. The first of many projects to come, for the development of football here in South Sudan” Infantino said after cutting a ribbon to mark its opening of the SSFA offices

He, also met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir, and did promise to develop football in a country left in ruins after decades of war.

His next stop will be Ethiopia on the invitation of the Ethiopian Football Federation on his first official international visit that started earlier this month in the United Kingdom.

Later this month he is due to visit the scandal-hit South American football confederation CONMEBOL on March 28-29 in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.

Additional reporting Kawowo