CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has stated that women are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of African football as well as the socio-economic development and growth of the African Continent. This was part of his remarks to mark the International Women’s Day.
While there is a lot of work that still needs to be done in developing women’s football in Africa and internationally, Dr. Motsepe once again reaffirmed his commitment to create more opportunities for women to participate and lead on and off the field of play.
This year’s theme: ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ has been a fundamental commitment of CAF under Dr. Patrice Motsepe’s leadership.
“Today, we pay our respect and express our admiration to the women in Africa and worldwide. They instill values of compassion and inspire us with their commitment and contributions to the upliftment of our communities, countries and the African Continent.
“I am also proud of the African women players who are succeeding in Africa and globally and are recognized as being amongst the best football players in the world. We have stars like Asisat Oshoala, Thembi Kgatlana, Ajara Njoya, Sarah Essam, Cidalia Cuta and others who are pioneering the way. I am confident that based on the talent that we have in African women’s football, an African nation will win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the not-too-distant future”.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe
Under the new leadership of Dr. Patrice Motsepe, significant progress has been made in the participation and leadership of women in African football. Some of which include the election of Ibrahim Kanizat as the first female Vice President in CAF’s history. She is also the President of the CAF Women’s Football Organizing Committee.
Also, there was the appointment of Salima Rhadia Mukansanga as the first women referee to officiate a match at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, together with Fatiha Jermoumi, Bouchkra Karboubi and Carina Atemzabong. In addition, there was the successful inaugural TotalEnergies Women’s Champions League staged in Egypt in November last year.
Isha Johansen, a CAF representative at the FIFA Council and Deputy President of the CAF Women’s Football Organizing Committee said: “We all know that women have been left behind, but the new CAF leadership is committed to creating opportunities for women to play important leadership and other roles”.
There are also reports that initiatives are underway at CAF to recruit women and to ensure that they occupy important leadership roles in the Secretariat.
More should be done to celebrate women
Meanwhile, South Africa women’s Under-17 coach, Simphiwe Dludlu, said that there is so much to be done to celebrate women. As the world and different industries commemorate 8th March as the 2022 International Women’s Day, the Bantwana coach hopes for a society that enables women to be celebrated for all kinds of achievements which is fitting for this year’s campaign theme, #BreakTheBias.
“When celebrating the day, it shouldn’t be about heartache. It should be the same as celebrating a birthday, a milestone of being a woman alive. Of being a citizen of the world, a person that adds value to the world. We should be creating platforms where women get to celebrate themselves in different industries” .
Simphiwe Dludlu
CAF launches women’s football capacity building course
As part of measures to enhance women participation in football, CAF has launched a three-week capacity-building online course for Member Associations women’s senior national team head coaches and physical trainers for women football players.
The course, organized by CAF Women’s Football Development Department, will run until 23rd March 2022. This is part of CAF’s commitment to empower women football coaches and create capacity.
One of the objectives of the training is to educate coaches and practitioners working with female players on the physical fitness demands needed in modern football. It also seeks to empower coaches and physical fitness trainers with the proper knowledge to train and prepare female athletes for international competitions.
“One of the objectives in our strategy is to build women football coaches capacities to ensure sustainable growth in women’s football. This webinar is an extensive and very specific topic workshop that is a continuation of our previous workshops which aim to coach and prepare women as women. We are excited to dive deeper into topics to increase knowledge within African women’s football and equip our coaches with the proper tools to be able to compete internationally”.
Safia Abdel Dayem, CAF Head of Women Football.
The focus will be on training, preparing, and developing women athletes.
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