A significant step forward for African women’s football was taken yesterday.
Tanzania hosted the inaugural Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament in Dar Es Salaam. The opening match took place at Azam Complex Stadium, where JKT Queens faced off against the young talents of the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS).
The opening match was thrilling, with JKT Queens securing a 3-0 victory over KAS, thanks to two goals from their star forward, Winifrida Hubert Gerald. Winifrida Hubert Gerald is a highly talented player who also plays for a club in Tanzania’s Premier Women’s League.
On the KAS side, players like Mitshel Muthama and Lidney Atieno stood out as key players. As these players continue to develop, they could hold an important place in the African women’s football culture.
The CAF U-17 GIFT tournament offers opportunities to young female footballers, promotes gender equality in sports, and encourages more young girls to pursue football. In the future, women’s football will evolve to a more significant position, thanks to initiatives like this one.
After the match, KAS head coach Jackline Juma made the following statement:
“It was a difficult game because my team didn’t know our opponents well, but we played well and created many chances that we failed to convert. We haven’t lost hope yet, as we still have matches to play. We will come back stronger and better prepared to win the next games.”
The winning coach of JKT Queens, Ester Chabruma, said:
“We thank God for this victory, but it was a tough game. We didn’t know our opponents, so we let them play for 25 minutes to study their game and find the best way to score. That’s how we won the match.”
The tournament continues, with all matches broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube Channel, CAF TV.