CAF Hosts Another Successful “Meet Our Coaches and Captains” Event to Strengthen Women’s Football in Africa
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) today held its “Meet Our Coaches and Captains” event in Casablanca, coinciding with the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024.
This event continued a tradition of dialogue established by CAF since 2018, where coaches, captains, and administrators share insights and recommendations on the development of women’s football in Africa.
Eight elite teams participated this year, including ASFAR (Morocco), FC Masar (Egypt), Edo Queens (Nigeria), CBE (Ethiopia), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), University of the Western Cape (South Africa), and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).
Mrs. Kanizat Ibrahim, CAF 5th Vice-President and Chairperson of the Women’s Football Organizing Committee, opened the session, reinforcing CAF’s dedication to women’s football. “This tournament, along with broader ongoing initiatives, is the result of dedicated financial investments and structural support aimed at empowering women at all levels of the sport. But all of this would be meaningless if we did not take the time to truly understand the realities on the ground. That's why your contribution is so valuable. By collaborating with you, we can ensure that the growth of women's football is sustainable and tailored to the needs of those who live and breathe the game every day,’’ she noted.
This marks the latest in a series of “Meet Our Coaches and Captains” sessions, traditionally organized on the sidelines of major women’s tournaments like the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The latest sessions gathered valuable recommendations that CAF implemented during the 2023-2024 cycle, making significant improvements across areas such as training facilities, media coverage, and league professionalism.
Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, CAF Head of Women’s Football, emphasized the importance of actionable feedback: “Hearing from the teams directly allows us to shape programs that address real needs. This ongoing dialogue has already yielded results in recent years, with more teams participating in major tournaments, the introduction of new competitions, and the implementation of a Coaching License dedicated to women. We aim to understand the real-life challenges so we can respond with relevant support and development initiatives.”
Raul Chipenda, CAF Director of Technical Development, urged attendees to openly discuss both successes and obstacles they encounter. During the session, participants highlighted areas where continued improvement is needed, such as enhanced training facilities, increased media exposure, and stronger sponsorship networks and funding. Coaches and captains shared stories of how even small changes have positively impacted their leagues.
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