CAF must call full time on discrimination against women

SIXTY years after its historic founding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Confederation of African Football experienced necessary change when the oligarchical, long-serving president was defeated in an election, ushering in a new leadership era.

Now that the necessary change has occurred, will CAF propel forward a powerful women’s football programme for the continent?

With the ending of Issa Hayatou’s 29-year reign, its gratifying to see oligarchical power and control being challenged in African sport. But now it is time for gender discrimination, male hegemony and domination to be challenged in African football.

African countries have talented female footballers, but they are not being supported to achieve their potential world-class prowess. Teams play too few continental and international fixtures, the domestic leagues are weak and the game is not given the respect it should have.

Speaking on social media, new CAF president Ahmad Ahmad told women footballers to believe in his leadership. “Ladies, I won’t let you down. Please have a look at this extract of my programme about women’s fb (football),” he said on Twitter. I will look for better ways to show them my support and I am determined to constantly find ways to improve it.

“The CAF as a whole will inevitably think of the right method to design more attractive, and more spectacular women’s football competitions. Most of all, we want them to be anchored in the daily habits of our towns and villages.”

Women’s football in Africa is crying out for development, advancement and recognition by CAF. In defence of furthering women’s football on the continent, the federation has said it is developing it. However, CAF’s investment of resources and money into growing one of the most popular, most watched and fastest-growing women’s sports in the world is meagre.

CAF shouldn’t dismiss challenges and protests when voices rage about its nominal support.

Women’s football might be improved here and there, but gender disparities might be supported and maintained.

Compared with what boys’ and men’s football achieves and receives from CAF and other African football federations, girls and women’s football is not given the same favour and support.

Africa’s international women footballers have had enough and are speaking out against the discrimination, especially the late and no-show payments they receive for national duty.

Women’s football in Europe and North America is given much more support and recognition.

Yes, African women’s football does have structures in most African countries with leagues and national teams. Except for South Africa, most African teams go into international competition unprepared for the tough fixtures against countries such as US, Germany, Australia, Canada, Norway, England.

Africa’s women footballers are expected to perform with impressive and credible results against fierce, strong international opponents without support.

The female footballers are crying out for national professional leagues that will allow them to play the beautiful game they love as professionals and full-time players instead of part-timers and getting part-time results.

The federation complies with international football when it hosts Olympic and World Cup qualifiers and the long-running African Women’s Championship. But that’s all. Africa’s Under17 and Under-20 women’s football suffers terribly from lack of continental and international development with just the world cup qualifiers held for these two age groups.

Why no more additional tournaments to give the girl footballers more international game time?

CAF must introduce more continental competitions for girls and women’s football; competitions such as continental club and knock-out champions events, like in the boys’ and men’s leagues.

These events must be introduced for under 17, under 20 and senior women’s football. CAF has got to instruct national federations to be sincere and honest and create spaces and opportunities for women coaches, too.

Money and payment for coaches’ course fees must be waived for women football coaches. And women coaches must be appointed to coach national girls and women’s football teams.

How must Africa’s girl footballers compete with the rest of the world in World Cups and Olympic events when they don’t get much international experience and play? It’s a human right for Africa’s sports federations and continental sports structures to advance, support and grow all genders and sexualities in sport. It’s inhumane and a violation of human rights to favour boys and men and discriminate against girls and women in sport.