FIFA development director Thierry Regenass said professional management of the game in Africa was often lacking and needed to be improved if football was to grow.
"Professionalism is an essential aspect to create the basis for the future," he told a news briefing in Johannesburg.
"We need to invest in not infrastructure but grassroots, youth and professional leagues. This is our objective over the next years because it is through this aspect we will have vibrant national teams."
Africa's first hosting of the World Cup finals has failed to deliver expected improvement in the competitiveness of its representatives at the finals.
"In Africa, there are usually two sources of income. The government puts money into the national team and FIFA with its financial assistance programme. There needs to be diversified sources of income to development African football," he said.
"There is a strong need for a better youth championships and for the national leagues, which are the heartbeat of football in Africa."
