CAF strengthens women’s football governance with continent-wide administrators’ workshops

The Confederation of African Football is intensifying its push to professionalise women’s football administration across the continent through a structured programme of zonal workshops designed to sharpen leadership and planning capacity within member associations.

CAF, working alongside its six zonal unions, has already delivered editions of its Women’s Football Administrators’ Workshops across several regions, including UNIFFAC, WAFU A, UNAF and COSAFA.

The sessions have trained 80 officials so far, equipping them with practical tools to strengthen governance structures and improve the management of women’s football programmes at national level.

The latest phase of the initiative is taking place in West Africa, where WAFU B is hosting a three-day workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, from 26 to 28 April 2026.

Fifteen representatives from member associations in the zone are participating in sessions focused on strategic planning, leadership development and administrative efficiency.

A key objective of the programme is to close information gaps that have long affected the growth of the women’s game, particularly around access to CAF support systems and how associations can better utilise available resources.

Participants are also working on tailored action plans designed to reflect the specific needs of their respective regions. These roadmaps are expected to guide long-term development and are implemented in coordination with CAF and the zonal unions.

Speaking on the initiative, CAF’s head of women’s football Meskerem Tadesse Goshime said the programme is intended to build a “strong and confident network” of administrators while also serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and practical problem-solving across regions.

Now in its first year of rollout, the initiative is expected to expand in scope, with CAF encouraging more member associations to adopt structured development frameworks.

The workshops are scheduled to run on a biennial basis in each zone, ensuring continuity, monitoring and measurable progress in strengthening women’s football across Africa.