The Moroccan, crowned “Best coach of a women’s team in Africa” » during the CAF Awards 2024, spoke about the difficulty of practicing one’s profession as a woman in Africa. The opportunity to discuss the difficulties of finding a place in a world dominated by men.
Now an icon of Moroccan women’s football, Lamia Boumehdi stands out in the microcosm of great African coaches as an essential figure, in a world still largely dominated by men. Coach of TP Mazembeshe symbolizes a success which is based on unwavering perseverance, she who became the first woman to win the African Women’s Champions League and a continental trophy on the continent. Her journey highlights the many challenges faced by women who dare to enter African football.
In Africa, patriarchal mentalities further complicate things, making access to positions of responsibility more difficult for women. Lamia Boumehdi draws up the observation for RFIin an interview published this Wednesday:
« You know the mentality in Africa well, it’s not like in Europe. In Africa, it’s difficult to find a place in this world, because we still consider that football is for men. A woman must therefore work ten times harder to be recognized. Fortunately, there is a lot of solidarity between women in our profession.. » This female solidarity, according to the technician, is essential to overcome persistent prejudices.
Beyond stereotypes, Boumehdi highlights another obstacle: the lack of confidence placed in women by leaders.
« The hardest part is having the trust of club leaders and national teams. We constantly have to prove. I am lucky to have the trust of TP Mazembe, a club which still has the means to put the players and coaches at ease. »
Despite this support, she remains lucid about the persistent disparities: “ Afterwards, we must not deny it, we do not have the same means as men. Men’s football in Africa remains more important than women’s football », explains the Moroccan.
Despite these challenges, Lamia Boumehdi remains a pioneer, embodying hope for African women’s football.
