HIBAPRESS-RABAT-CAF
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is preparing to organize the first ever edition of the CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT), an ambitious pilot initiative aimed at accelerating the development of women’s football on the African continent.
This unique event will be held at the Azam Complex stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and will bring together, from January 7 to 18, 2025, eight teams from member associations from the CECAFA region.
Designed as a platform of expression for young female talents, this tournament aspires to strengthen their skills, while giving increased visibility to women’s football at regional and continental levels.
This competition is part of a strategic approach by CAF, which intends to promote gender equality and prepare a new generation of African women footballers to take their place on the international scene.
By initiating this project, CAF aims to:
- to increase the participation of young girls in football across the continent;
- to encourage member associations and clubs to invest more in women’s teams, local championships and U-17 national teams;
- to create bridges between school football and competitive structures, thus offering a real springboard for young players.
Participating teams
Eight clubs from the CECAFA region will compete for this first edition:
- Aigle Noir FC (Burundi)
- Bahir Dar Kenema FC (Ethiopia)
- Kenya Academy of Sports (Kenya)
- JKT Queens (Tanzania)
- TDS Girls Academy (Tanzanie)
- Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team (Uganda)
- City Lights Football Academy (South Sudan)
- Hilaad FC (Somalia)
Exceptional media coverage and community initiatives
CAF will partner with Azam TV as well as CAF TV (its official YouTube channel) to guarantee live broadcasts of the matches, accessible across the continent.
Alongside the competition, several initiatives will be implemented to maximize the impact of this historic event:
- A CAF License D coaching course will be organized in order to develop the technical skills of supervisors;
- A workshop aimed at media professionals will aim to promote good practices in communication and media relations.
In addition, community activities will enrich this sporting experience, including:
- a women’s football festival;
- sports clinics;
- health awareness campaigns, carried out in partnership with UEFA.
These initiatives aim to place this event in a lasting dynamic, with positive impacts for local communities in Tanzania.
Information and highlights of the GIFT – CECAFA U17 Girls tournament will be available on the official CAF digital platforms.
