Developing Players. Building Futures.
An international football academy designed to guide talented players from ambition to professional opportunity.
Who We Are
CIFA Elite is a private international football academy based in Northern Portugal, dedicated to identifying, developing, and elevating talented players through a structured, professional training environment.
Our approach is built on real football experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to progress in today’s game. We focus not only on performance, but on preparing players for the realities of a professional football career—on and off the pitch.
Our MissionOur mission is to provide a professional, supportive, and challenging environment where players can develop to their highest level.
We prepare athletes to succeed not only in football, but in life—building discipline, resilience, and the mindset required to perform at an elite level.
A Real Pathway to Professional Football
The journey to professional football is competitive and often misunderstood. While only a small percentage of players reach the very top, there are real opportunities across different levels of the game.
At CIFA Elite, we focus on creating genuine pathways—helping players develop, gain exposure, and access opportunities within European football systems where talent is actively identified and developed.
We don’t sell unrealistic dreams. We build real progression.
Complete Player Development
Technical
Mastery of ball control, passing, and game execution
Physical
Strength, speed, endurance, and overall athletic performance
Tactical
Understanding positioning, decision-making, and game strategy
Mental
Confidence, discipline, focus, and resilience under pressure
The Vision Behind CIFA Elite
Built from experience. Designed for the future of football.
“CIFA Elite is not just an academy -it is a pathway designed to prepare players for the reality of professional football.”
Bafodé Dabo Carvalho
Founder, CEO & Chairman
Bafodé Dabo Carvalho, founder of CIFA Elite (Carvalho International Football Academy), brings a lifetime of experience from within the professional game. Born in Guinea-Bissau and raised in Portugal, he developed his foundation in Lisbon, training alongside top professionals and understanding early what it takes to compete at the highest level.
His career took him across multiple countries—including England, China, Thailand, and Cyprus—giving him a global perspective on football development, discipline, and opportunity. These experiences exposed not only the demands of the professional game, but also the gaps that prevent many talented players from reaching it.
Driven by that reality, he founded CIFA in 2018, focused on building strong foundations in young players. In 2023, he launched CIFA Elite—an evolution of that vision—created to bridge the gap between grassroots football and the professional level through structure, exposure, and high-performance training.
Start Your Journey to Professional Football
Join a structured pathway designed to develop your talent, provide international exposure, and open doors to professional opportunities.