Africa Must Do More for Women’s Football

June 21, 2017 Semonegna Sports 0

Meskerem Tadesse Goshime told BBC Africa Sport that the reduction in the number of entries is further proof that the women’s football continues to be neglected across Africa.

By Usher Komugisha (BBC Africa Sport)

African nations are not doing enough to promote women’s football, according to Meskerem Tadesse Goshime of the Ethiopian Football Federation.

The deputy secretary general’s comments come in the wake of an announcement last week that only 19 of the continent’s 55 members will take part in the 2018 Under-20 World Cup qualifiers.

A total of 24 teams entered the qualification process for the 2012 tournament held in Japan.

Meskerem Tadesse Goshime told BBC Africa Sport that the reduction in the number of entries is further proof that the women’s game continues to be neglected across Africa.

She said: “Women’s football has always been and still is not a high concern in some federations.

“In some, it’s the first to suffer when there is a budget problem.”

Meskerem said despite FIFA’s global push to promote women’s football, it remains underfunded and ignored by all-male establishments in Africa.

“There is a lot of focus given to women’s football at FIFA level, but that needs to flow down to every member association.

“Each federation must have a women’s football development department supported financially and through capacity building programs.”

A series of initiatives to promote women’s football have been launched in some countries in recent years but the results have been abysmal.

Junior female football already has deep roots in many parts of the world, especially Asia, Europe and the United States, but Africa is woefully behind.

Read the complete story at BBC Africa Sport
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