Today, Douala hosted the launch of a two-day seminar titled the “Women’s Football Administrators Workshop,” jointly organized by CAF and UNIFFAC.
This powerful initiative brings together women administrators from across the region to enhance their leadership skills and strategic knowledge in women’s football.
The opening day began with a word of welcome from UNIFFAC’s interim Executive Director Remy Marthial N’nang and featured expert-led sessions by Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, Head of Women’s Football at CAF, along with CAF instructors Sibanda Thubaelihe Bridgette and Armel Azihar Slyvania.
The first module offered a comprehensive overview of women’s football:
From grassroots to global levels,
The rapid growth of the women’s game in Africa — including over 150,000 registered players, nearly 600 trained female coaches, and increased investment across competitions like the CAF Women’s Champions League, which saw its prize money rise to $600,000 in 2024.
During the workshop, participants delved into a detailed exploration of the profiles and expectations of the various attendees.
They also took a comprehensive look at the major milestones, ongoing challenges, and notable success stories that have shaped the landscape of women’s football across the African continent.
Special attention was given to key insights and best practices drawn from leading regional blocs such as COSAFA and WAFU A.
This included a spotlight on Malawi’s landmark victory at the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship — a triumph made possible in part through the support of FIFA’s Forward Programme.
The module further examined the current realities surrounding the management of women’s football within Central Africa.
Participants were encouraged to engage in strategic reflection on the barriers that continue to hinder progress and how these might be overcome.
The session culminated in a collaborative debrief. This aimed to align perspectives and solidify shared goals for the future.
Looking ahead to Day 2, the seminar promises to offer even deeper insights through a series of compelling case studies.
These include the remarkable rise of TP Mazembe — the Congolese club that captured continental attention by winning the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2024 — and the enduring story of the Cameroon women’s national team.
The national team is widely regarded as a symbol of resilience, ambition, and untapped potential within the Central African footballing community.
Their journey serves as both inspiration and a call to action for stakeholders in the region.
One of the most anticipated moments of the workshop will be a creative and forward-looking session on UNIFFAC’s Women’s Football Brand.
In this session, participants will critically examine what it means to build a football brand that is visible, professional, empowering, and sustainable.
They will also explore how the region’s unique strengths can be harnessed to establish a lasting and impactful identity.
This branding session is designed to set the foundation for long-term growth and recognition.
The event will conclude with strategic action planning under the unifying theme, “Harness our strengths, win together – Eight threads woven into one strong rope.”
This final message reinforces the power of collaboration and a shared vision in building the future of women’s football in the region.
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