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Football players are reaching the peak of their physical capabilities, especially at the elite level. As spaces on the pitch become more compact, the demand for quick thinking and rapid decision-making has grown. This has led to a significant increase in the importance of tactical intelligence in football. Players today need sharp observation skills, and they must be able to combine those with other attributes such as creativity.

Recognizing this shift, West African Football Academy has taken the first steps towards incorporating cognitive training and testing into our program. During a match, players make hundreds, even thousands, of decisions. The question is: to what extent can we influence this process and improve it?

To explore this area, WAFA has partnered with Marc van Lokven of Marvalous Health, who has developed a Brain Training and Coaching program based on Neurotracker. This training tool is already being used by renowned clubs such as Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and Olympique Lyonnais.

We recently conducted an initial assessment with our oldest generation of players. The feedback from the players has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are excited to see how this training will impact their development in the months to come.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to explore new ways to enhance the cognitive abilities of our players!