UEFA-CAF collaboration a gift for girls' football in Africa
Friday, January 24, 2025
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A new three-year programme will provide more opportunities and vital equipment for developing players, kicking off with a tournament for teams across the continent.
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Girls' and women's football across Africa is set for a major boost thanks to a brand-new collaboration between UEFA and CAF, the Confederation of African Football.
The first major project of the UEFA Together initiative, launched last week, has taken place in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, as we joined forces with CAF to deliver an inspiring week of competitive football, grassroots events and education workshops for girls.
While this week's activities focused on the CECAFA (Council for East and Central Africa Football Association) region, UEFA and CAF will collaborate over the next three years to strengthen development opportunities for young female players and empower women and girls throughout the whole of Africa.
"Close collaboration with our sister confederations and FIFA is the guiding principle of the UEFA Together programme and we are delighted to be working alongside our friends at CAF to benefit women's football in Africa. Our teamwork over the next three years will drive the game on to new levels, providing more opportunities for girls and women to reach their true potential."
Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF general secretary added: "The CAF GIFT Programme is not just a once-off project but part an implementation of the 10 Point Plan of the CAF President Dr Motsepe. The CAF GIFT is a culmination of football activities that have been taking place in the six CAF Zones and an incentive for Member Associations to get organised and advance girl’s access to football including setting up domestic leagues, coaching seminars, distribution of equipment as well as grassroots activities. Each of these are key in breaking down the barriers for girls to access football.
"Using the event to leverage a women’s health campaign was just as important given the unique opportunity we had in bringing talented young girls from across the region. We thank UEFA for this collaboration in getting this pilot edition across the line. We look forward to bringing the project to all six Zones.
"The collaboration between UEFA and CAF in this project embodies the commitment of both our presidents to work together for the betterment of football."
What is the UEFA Together programme?
UEFA Together shares the experience and know-how of UEFA and our member associations outside of Europe, focusing on key areas of football development.
By working closely with our five sister confederations and FIFA, UEFA Together builds on collaborations around the world and strengthens ties between national associations across all six continents.
Offering international experience to top young players
The central focus for this week's collaboration launch was the inaugural CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT), a pioneering initiative providing a platform for more than 100 talented young players and match officials to gain experience of a tournament atmosphere.
Clubs from host nation Tanzania were joined by teams from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda, some of whom were travelling outside their country for the first time, and were able to test themselves against their opponents while also forging friendships away from the pitch.
Fans inside Dar-Es-Salaam's Azam Sports Complex, as well as those tuning in live on local Tanzanian TV and the official CAF YouTube channel, were impressed by the high technical standards on display, with JKT Queens eventually emerging victorious in Saturday's final thanks to a 2-1 victory against TDS Girls.
Each of the participating teams, and their respective national associations, received a UEFA Together donation of 100 footballs, pairs of goalkeeper gloves and sports bras, vital equipment for their ongoing development when they return home. This donation is an extension of the UEFA Kit Assistance Scheme, which provides kits and training wear to some of our national associations.
"Women's football has been growing immensely in Africa, and this new relationship between CAF and UEFA Together will bring a lot of support that can help us professionalise the game but also develop at the grassroots level.
"This tournament is a way to provide girls with the chance to participate in an international tournament before they reach their national teams, but also to be scouted and enter the world of professional football."
Teaming up to create a healthy future for women
A key element of the collaboration centres on education and female empowerment, and on Thursday, UEFA Together and CAF joined forces with Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and global NGO Girl Effect to deliver an important health workshop for each of the competing teams.
The workshop, supported by the Tanzanian ministry of health, focused on raising awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common cause of cervical cancer, and the free, highly effective vaccine that can save millions of women's lives each year.
Turning an education session into a fun afternoon for teenage girls is no easy task, but the experience will live long in the memory for everybody present. Each of the teams brainstormed on ideas for how to better inform their own friends and communities of the risks of HPV, presenting their ideas to the audience before ending with a joyous series of dances to their favourite music.
"It is inspiring to see the worlds of football and global health come together to ensure girls have the knowledge they need to protect their health and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Rates of cervical cancer are highest in Africa, which means we need to make sure all girls here have access to the best defence. That's why our goal at Gavi is to ensure girls everywhere have access to the HPV vaccine and a future free from the threat of cervical cancer."
Eni Aluko, former England international:
"It's vital that young girls have access to the HPV vaccine so that they can reach their potential, stay healthy and thrive both on and off the pitch. It was great to see the players and teams developing fun and engaging ways to educate others on the vaccine, and I really hope this continues."
Introducing schoolgirls to the beautiful game
It is not just at the elite level that girls' and women's football in Africa will benefit from UEFA-CAF teamwork.
The Tanzanian Football Federation welcomed more than 100 girls aged 7 to 12 to a special grassroots event last week, which for many was the first time they had sampled a football session.
Working with the kids were a selection of budding coaches studying for their CAF D-Licence – ensuring that not only are more girls enjoying an early taste of the game, but that there will be sufficient numbers of qualified coaches ready to guide them.
"Football is massive here in Tanzania. We are putting a lot of effort in to get the process right so that we can meet the expectations of our fans. One of our goals is not only promoting the game to girls and women, but changing perceptions. Some people still feel that football is not for girls, so events like this are massive, as is hosting the U17 GIFT tournament, and we believe it can make a big impact."
What comes next for UEFA and CAF collaboration?
This first week of activity represents a hugely encouraging start to the new programme there is plenty more to look forward to.
The success of the inaugural GIFT tournament ensures CAF will look to expand the initiative into more African regions, but this is not all — the UEFA Kit Assistance Scheme, which provides playing kit for smaller national associations, is set to help some of Africa's youth international teams, and further equipment donations will boost women's football throughout the continent.
Later this spring, African teams will join UEFA-organised friendly youth tournaments in Türkiye and Switzerland, with capacity building and coaching workshops also to come. Watch this space!