CAF Launches Groundbreaking Program to Strengthen Women’s Role in African Football Coaching
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to the development of women’s football by launching the Women Instructors Development Program (WIDP).
This initiative, set to begin in March 2025, coinciding with International Women’s Rights Month, aims to enhance the skills and expertise of women involved in coaching education and training across Africa.
A Structured and Inclusive Program
Spanning three months, the WIDP will combine online modules with an in-person training session, ensuring flexibility for participants who are already engaged in professional football roles. The program’s schedule is as follows:
March 4 – 5, 2025: Module 1 – Leadership
March 18 – 19, 2025: Module 2 – Communication
March 25 – 26, 2025: Module 3 – Coaching Pedagogy
April 8 – 9, 2025: Module 4 – Practical Knowledge
May 5 – 9, 2025: In-person training and assessment (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Beyond the structured training, participants will benefit from mentorship programs, ensuring ongoing support even after the course concludes.
A Strong Commitment to Women’s Inclusion in Football
The WIDP will feature 29 participants from 22 CAF member associations, including national team coaches and key figures from the CAF Women’s Champions League. Notable participants include:
Sheryl Botes – Uganda Women’s National Team Head Coach
Lamia Boumehdi – TP Mazembe Head Coach and 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Winner
Selam Zeray – Liberia Women’s National Team Head Coach
Additionally, renowned experts such as Touré Clémentine (Ivory Coast) and Jaqueline Shipanga (Namibia), both CAF Technical Committee members, will contribute their expertise, alongside specialists from UEFA and other international confederations.
CAF’s Head of Women’s Football, Meskerem Goshime, emphasized the significance of this initiative:
“This program is a crucial step in ensuring that women play a central role in the future of African football, both on and off the pitch. It reflects CAF’s commitment to providing women with increased opportunities in leadership, education, and mentorship.”
CAF Secretary General, Véron Mosengo-Omba, underscored the need for a shift in how women’s football coaching is perceived:
“One of the priorities of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe since his election has been to develop and promote women’s football. We launched the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021, and today, we continue this momentum with initiatives like the WIDP.
“The image I want to change is that of women’s teams being coached only by men. That is not right. We need to encourage more women to take on leadership roles in football coaching and technical management.”
The WIDP is part of CAF’s broader strategy to reduce gender inequalities in African football, equipping women with the necessary tools to shape the future of the sport on the continent. The involvement of UEFA and FIFA in this initiative highlights its global significance.
Through the Women Instructors Development Program, CAF sends a strong message that African football must leverage all its talent, regardless of gender, to reach its full potential.
By investing in the development of women coaches and instructors, CAF aims to create a more inclusive, competitive, and dynamic football environment across the continent.
