Seychelles Football Federation
The national governing body responsible for organizing and developing football in Seychelles.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) is the national governing body for association football in Seychelles. Its responsibilities include administering domestic competitions, supporting football development, and representing Seychelles in international football through the country’s men’s, women’s, and beach-soccer national teams. The organization was originally established in 1941 as the Seychelles Football Association, at a time when its principal role was to oversee football competitions in the islands. It later adopted the name Seychelles Football Federation in 1980. The federation’s institutional development included the creation of a referees’ commission in 1953. Qualified referees received certificates, and Ahthime Hoareau became the first Seychellois referee to achieve that status. Hoareau subsequently served on the referees’ commission for approximately three decades, illustrating the federation’s early focus on formalizing match administration and officiating. Seychelles began presenting a national men’s team internationally in 1970, when it took part in a friendly tournament in Kenya. The country’s first stadium, Stade Populaire, was built during the 1970s, providing an important venue for domestic and representative football. In 1986, the SFF joined both FIFA, football’s global governing body, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). That same year, the men’s national team made its debut in the African Nations Cup. FIFA and CAF membership placed Seychellois football within the formal African and international competition systems and enabled the federation’s clubs and national teams to participate in recognized continental and global pathways. The SFF organizes or oversees the Seychelles First Division, the Seychelles Premier League structure, the Seychelles FA Cup, and women’s football competitions. It also administers the national men’s and women’s teams, while Seychelles has additionally developed a national beach-soccer team. In 1989, St Louis became the first Seychelles club to compete in an African club competition, entering the African Champions Cup and exiting in the first round. This represented an early step in the internationalization of the domestic game. Women’s football has become a visible part of the federation’s activities. In 2022, the Seychelles women’s national team appeared in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time. The team met FIFA’s requirement of playing at least six international matches against ranked opponents after its sixth such match in Singapore on 4 April 2022. The team was coached by Singaporean Angeline Chua during this period. The federation also uses commercial partnerships to support the visibility and financing of domestic football. In September 2024, the SFF signed a two-year agreement with Absa Bank Seychelles. The agreement resulted in the country’s top division being rebranded as the Absa Premier League. In 2025, Seychelles hosted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with support from FIFA. The event was described as a landmark for the country and as making Seychelles the smallest nation to host a FIFA tournament, as well as the first African country to stage the beach-soccer World Cup. The federation’s current president is identified as Elvis Chetty. Dennis Rose was identified as the federation’s chief executive in connection with the 2024 Absa partnership. The SFF remains the central institution through which football in Seychelles is governed, organized, represented internationally, and developed across men’s, women’s, youth, club, and beach-soccer activities.
History
The organization now known as the Seychelles Football Federation began in 1941 as the Seychelles Football Association. Its initial purpose was to supervise football competitions in Seychelles. The federation’s early institutional history included the establishment of a referees’ commission in 1953. Certified referees were introduced through this structure, and Ahthime Hoareau became the first qualified referee from Seychelles. He later served on the commission for about 30 years, making him an important figure in the development of organized officiating in the country. Seychelles’ first men’s national-team participation took place on 12 April 1970, when the team played in a friendly tournament in Kenya. The growth of the national game was accompanied by the construction of Stade Populaire during the 1970s, identified as the country’s first stadium. These developments provided both an international outlet for Seychellois players and a permanent setting for domestic football. In 1980, the Seychelles Football Association changed its name to the Seychelles Football Federation. Six years later, the SFF joined FIFA and CAF. The same year marked the men’s national team’s debut in the African Nations Cup. Membership of the two governing bodies connected the federation to the recognized global and African football systems, including formal national-team and club competitions. Club football gained a continental connection in 1989, when St Louis became the first Seychelles club to represent the country in African club competition. The club entered the African Champions Cup and was eliminated in the first round. The federation’s domestic responsibilities include the country’s leading league competition, the Seychelles FA Cup, and women’s football competitions. It also manages the national men’s and women’s teams and has responsibilities relating to beach soccer. A significant later development occurred in women’s football. In 2022, the Seychelles women’s national team entered the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time. The team fulfilled FIFA’s match requirement by playing six international matches against ranked teams, reaching the threshold with a match in Singapore on 4 April 2022. Angeline Chua of Singapore was the team’s head coach during this period. The federation has also pursued commercial support for the domestic game. On 11 September 2024, an agreement was signed between Absa Bank Seychelles managing director Nazim Mahmood and SFF chief executive Dennis Rose. The two-year arrangement gave the top domestic division the Absa Premier League name. This partnership linked the federation’s leading competition to a commercial title sponsor and increased the visibility of the national league. In 2025, Seychelles hosted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with support from FIFA. The tournament represented an international hosting milestone for the country and was described as making Seychelles the smallest nation to host a FIFA tournament. It was also identified as the first FIFA tournament hosted in Africa. Through these activities, the SFF has developed from a body overseeing local competitions into the institution responsible for Seychelles’ domestic football system, national representative teams, international affiliations, and selected major tournament events. Elvis Chetty is identified as its current president.
- 2025
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup hosted in Seychelles
[1]Seychelles hosted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with FIFA support, marking a major international tournament-hosting milestone.
- 2024
Absa Premier League agreement
[1]A two-year agreement with Absa Bank Seychelles led to the rebranding of the top domestic division as the Absa Premier League.
- 2022
Women's national team enters FIFA ranking
[1]The Seychelles women’s national team entered the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking after completing six qualifying international matches.
- 1989
First Seychelles club in African competition
[1]St Louis became the first Seychelles club to enter an African club competition, the African Champions Cup.
- 1986
FIFA and CAF affiliation
[1]The SFF became affiliated with FIFA and CAF, while the men’s national team made its African Nations Cup debut.
- 1980
Organization renamed
[1]The Seychelles Football Association adopted the name Seychelles Football Federation.
- 1970
First men's national-team international participation
[1]Seychelles’ men’s national team took part in a friendly tournament in Kenya on 12 April.
- 1970
Stade Populaire built
[1]The country’s first stadium was constructed during the 1970s, providing a major venue for football activity.
- 1953
Referees’ commission formed
[1]The federation created a referees’ commission and began issuing certificates to qualified officials. Ahthime Hoareau became Seychelles’ first qualified referee.
- 1941
Football association established
[1]The Seychelles Football Association was formed to oversee football competitions in the islands.
Products and positioning
National football governing federation for Seychelles, combining domestic competition administration, national-team representation, football development, and international football membership.
Domestic football competition
Seychelles Premier League
The leading domestic football competition administered under the federation’s authority. In 2024, a two-year sponsorship agreement with Absa Bank Seychelles resulted in the division being rebranded as the Absa Premier League.
Domestic football competition
Seychelles FA Cup
The national knockout cup competition organized by the Seychelles Football Federation as part of the country’s domestic football calendar.
National team · 1970
Seychelles men's national football team
The representative men’s team of Seychelles. It first participated internationally in a friendly tournament in Kenya in 1970 and made its African Nations Cup debut in 1986, the year the federation joined FIFA and CAF.
National team
Seychelles women's national football team
The representative women’s team of Seychelles. The team entered the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time in 2022 after completing the required international-match sequence.
National team
Seychelles national beach soccer team
The national beach-soccer representative side administered within the federation’s broader football structure. Seychelles’ beach-soccer profile was especially raised by its hosting of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Hosting of the FIFA Beach Soccer World CupOtherBackground
Seychelles developed its role in beach soccer and received support from FIFA to stage an international tournament.
Action taken
The federation and national football system hosted the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles.
Aftermath
The event was described as a historic hosting achievement, making Seychelles the smallest nation to host a FIFA tournament and the first African country to host the beach-soccer World Cup.
2024
Two-year Absa Bank Seychelles partnershipM&ABackground
The federation sought commercial support and greater visibility for the country’s top domestic division.
Action taken
The SFF signed a two-year agreement with Absa Bank Seychelles, under which the top division was rebranded as the Absa Premier League.
Aftermath
The leading domestic competition adopted a commercial title and gained a named banking partner. The agreement was signed by Absa managing director Nazim Mahmood and SFF chief executive Dennis Rose.
1986
Affiliation with FIFA and CAFStrategyBackground
Seychelles sought formal integration into global and African football structures.
Action taken
The federation became a member of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football.
Aftermath
The men’s national team made its African Nations Cup debut in the same year, and Seychelles gained access to recognized international and continental football pathways.
1980
Adoption of the Seychelles Football Federation nameStrategyBackground
The organization had operated as the Seychelles Football Association since its formation in 1941.
Action taken
It changed its name to the Seychelles Football Federation.
Aftermath
The SFF name became the federation’s formal identity as it later pursued FIFA and CAF affiliation.
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