Overview:
The CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) championship is a pioneering pilot initiative to promote the development of women’s football across Africa.
- Event: CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT)
- Dates: 7th to 18th January 2025
- Host country: Tanzania
- Venue: Azam Complex Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam city
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has organized the inaugural CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) in Tanzania.
Uganda is among the seven countries from the CECAFA zone that will be represented by clubs at this championship that will take center stage between 7th to 18th January 2025 at the Azam complex in Dar-es-Salaam city.
Boni Consilli Girls Vocational team will represent Uganda in this U-17 tournament.
Hosts Tanzania have two clubs; JKT Queens and TDS Girls Academy. Kenya has Kenya Academy of Sports, Aigle Noir FC (Burundi), Bahir Dar Kenema FC (Ethiopia), City Lights Football Academy (South Sudan) and Hilaad FC is from Somalia.
The GIFT championship is a pioneering pilot initiative to promote the development of women’s football across Africa.
The tournament provides a platform to showcase young female footballers, build player capacity and promote women’s football at regional and continental levels.
The competition is part of CAF’s strategy to promote gender equality and empower the next generation of female footballers.
CAF has set out to increase participation of girls in football across the continent, encourage MAs and clubs to invest in girls’ football clubs, leagues and Under-17 women’s national teams, and provide a pathway for girls to transition from schools football to competitive football structures.
Broadcast:
CAF is partnering with Azam TV and CAF TV (the official YouTube channel of the Confédération Africaine de Football) to provide live coverage, accessible in all regions of the continent.
In addition, there will be a CAF D-License coaching course and a workshop for media representatives to be held on the sidelines of the tournament, with the aim of promoting best practices in communications and media engagement.
Alongside the competition, there will be community events such as a girls’ football festival, sports clinics, and health awareness campaigns conducted in partnership with UEFA.
These initiatives aim to leave a lasting legacy for local communities in Tanzania.
Eight clubs from the CECAFA region will compete:
- Aigle Noir FC (Burundi)
- Bahir Dar Kenema FC (Ethiopia)
- Kenya Academy of Sports (Kenya)
- JKT Queens (Tanzania)
- TDS Girls Academy (Tanzania)
- Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team (Uganda)
- City Lights Football Academy (South Sudan)
- Hilaad FC (Somalia)
Additional information by CAF
