Djibouti's historic milestone as ITF continues development ambitions
Let’s take a walk through the history of tennis development in Djibouti – a nation in the Horn of Africa bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Red Sea.
For nearly 30 years, tennis activities were sustained across Djibouti by its national association – Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis – and the stewardship of its late President, Houmed Hussein.
It was under Hussein’s leadership that Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis received funding through the ITF Facility Grant Programme to help cover the costs for a National Training Centre with four tennis courts.
This centre became a hub for national training programmes, while it hosted the nation’s first ITF World Tennis Tour event in 2011. Eleven further ITF World Tennis Tour Women’s events have been staged in Djibouti, but none since 2018.
Following the election of Sougueh Ibrahim Sougueh as President in 2021, tennis development in Djibouti received a further push – with tangible results to back up the hard work.
As verified by the 2024 ITF Global Tennis Report, participation in Djibouti has increased considerably, while the introduction of the ITF Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) in schools has boosted the number of children picking up a racket. More than a 1000 have done so in 2025.
In a boost to this, Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis was granted funding through the ITF Facility Grant Programme to construct a new court at the National Training Centre and refurbish the existing four.
This is a game-changer for Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis and has ensured the National Training Centre once again meets the required standard to host ITF World Tennis Tour events.
Indeed, Djibouti is set to host its first ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events in 2026. This will provide competitive opportunities for Djiboutian players and further encourage the growth of tennis in the country.
The hosting of tournaments and delivery of playing opportunities is also a key part of the ITF’s provision of a global pathway for players. To that end, for the first time in 2025 more than 1000 ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events have been staged worldwide.
“This will be a historic milestone and a significant step forward for Djibouti,” said Thierry Ntwali, the ITF’s Development Officer for East and Central Africa.
“Hosting ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events signals Djibouti’s return to the international tennis scene after years of rebuilding and investing in facilities and player development.
“For the country’s young players, having the chance to compete at home is truly transformative. It lowers financial barriers, offers international-standard competitive exposure and encourages the next generation to pursue the sport.
“For the national association, it boosts organisational capability, increases visibility within the region and positions Djibouti as an emerging contributor to African tennis. It is testament to the national association's renewed vision and dedication to tennis development.”
This sentiment is very much echoed by Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis President Sougueh, who insists the benefits of staging of international competition within Djibouti are multifaceted.
“Hosting ITF junior tournaments will be a source of pride for Djibouti and provide the country with an international platform,” said Sougueh.
“It will increase the country's visibility within Africa and globally and give our young athletes the motivation to participate in an international event on their own soil, reducing obstacles related to transportation costs, adaptation and logistics.
“This opportunity for Djiboutians to compete against international players without leaving their homeland will be highly motivating. Ultimately, it will be a significant boost for local tennis.
“It will heighten interest in the sport: more club memberships, more players, more spectators and greater collaboration. For sponsors and authorities, it will foster increased support for tennis.”
In addition to the upgrade of facilities and the staging of international competition, there are other developmental steps being taken in Djibouti.
Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis are preparing an application for their National Training Centre to be assessed through the ITF’s National Training Centre Recognition Programme, which ensures a global footprint relating to facilities, coaching, and training.
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The application would be for white level status and that is primarily for nations focusing on essential infrastructure standards, and it provides Djibouti with a strong recognised high-performance base to support junior player development.
It would also mean there is a structured training environment for talented players, while there would be the possibility for Djibouti to work its way up the levels.
The national association is also taking steps to introduce a structured coaching education system. With ITF support, local coaches now have access to formal training and certification, which raises coaching standards and player-development outcomes.
In addition, the introduction of the JTI in schools and the growing number of junior players training at the National Training Centre shows that tennis has really taken root.
“All of this represents a turning point for tennis in Djibouti,” added Ntwali.
“In recent years, the national association has transitioned from maintaining basic activity to building a genuine development pathway supported by improved infrastructure, growing grassroots participation and now the return of international competition.
“This momentum opens new horizons for young Djiboutian players, who can now dream of progressing through a structured pathway without leaving their country at the earliest stage.
“With a strong base now in place and continued effort, the future of tennis in Djibouti looks hopeful.
“If Djibouti continues this progress, it can become an increasingly competitive tennis country in East and Central Africa where young players are trained locally, coaches improve their skills and playing international events becomes the norm.”
Sougueh added: “The goals of Fédération Djiboutienne de Tennis are ambitious and varied. First and foremost, I want to make tennis accessible to everyone by breaking down its image as a sport for the elite.
“This means facilitating access to the sport for young people, schools in various regions and disadvantaged communities.”
The ITF enables more tennis experiences than any other organisation across nations, ages, abilities and diverse backgrounds. To do this, each year the ITF reinvests 90 per cent of its income year into the game.
The overriding aim is to empower people to enjoy tennis and improve lives. When stories such as Djibouti are told, it adds significant weight to that mission.