Liga de Fútbol Femenino (Panamá)

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The Panamanian Women's First Division or the Women's Football League (LFF) is the top women's football competition in Panama. It is run by the Panamanian Football League and is contested in two annual tournaments called Apertura and Clausura.

Contents

Beginnings

It was created in 2017 by the Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT), with the aim of establishing a new league with the vision of being the highest competition of its kind that allows for continuous development in the different parts of the country and forms the best national teams. [1]

The first edition of this competition was launched on June 24, 2017, with the participation of eight teams. The participants were SD Atlético Nacional, Chorrillo FC (from 2018 it changed its name to CD Universitario), San Francisco FC, El Brujas FC, Academia FMS, Sporting SM, Universidad Tecnológica UTP, and Azuero FC.

FEPAFUT regulated and organized the championship until 2020. Since 2021, it has been regulated by the Panamanian Football League, an independent entity of FEPAFUT and organizer of the top football competitions in the country.

Starting with the 2022 Opening Edition, the competition was expanded to 16 teams, with both the women's and men's tournaments officially having their respective representative teams in each category. In addition, highlighting the debut of three teams, Ciex Sports Academy, Herrera FC, and Élite FC, as well as the return of CD Árabe Unido to the top women's soccer tournament in Panama. [1]

Antecedents

The first steps in women's football in Panama were taken between 1939 and 1941 with the Catholic League played by girls' schools.

In the 1970s, there were teams such as El Chorrillo, Barraza, and Panama Viejo. Among the tournaments played, the Panamanian Air Force Cup (FAP) stands out in 1972. Likewise, from 1976 to 1980, the Panamanian Women's League was organized with the participation of teams such as Atlético Panamá, Santa Ana, Bethania, and Guardia Nacional.

The ball rolled again from 1991 to 1993 when the District League of Panama was held on the El Chimborazo field in Juan Díaz; at that time the Panama Viejo FC women's team was one of the best known.

In 1996, the Liga Superior de Fútbol Femenino (LSFF) was founded by young sports experts, and a year later the first championship was held, with the Venus de Santa Ana as the winner. The competition, which changed its name to Liga Femenina de Fútbol, lasted until 2002.

In response to the need to meet commitments in the field of national teams, the National Women's Football Association (ANAFUFE) was created, supported by FEPAFUT, and which lasted from 2003 to 2013, with its opening and closing championships being a sensation in its first years.

Among the participating teams were Club Deportivo Santa Ana, Navy Bay de Colón, Olympic SD, Chorrillo FC, and SD Atlético Nacional. Without forgetting the protagonists of the stature of Amarelis De Mera, Diana Valderrama, Lucrecia Bustamante, Mónica Franco, Raiza Gutiérrez, among others with notable participation

Club Licensing

In accordance with the guidelines required by FIFA and CONCACAF, as of 2018 it was stipulated that the participating teams would be from professional clubs of the LPF and LNA.

In the second edition, 16 teams saw action: SD Atlético Nacional, CAI, SD Panama Oeste, Atlético Veragüense, Club Deportivo Universitario, San Francisco FC, Santa Gema FC, CD Plaza Amador, CD Centenario, Costa del Este FC, Colón C-3, Deportivo Árabe Unido, Tauro FC, Río Abajo FC, Sporting SM, and Lions of America.

Participating teams 2022

Below are the participating teams with their respective venues.

Teams by province

ProvinceN.ºTeams
Panama 7Alianza FC
CIEX Sports Academy
CD Plaza Amador
Potros del Este
SD Atlético Nacional
Sporting SM
Tauro FC
Bandera de la Provincia de Panama Oeste.svg Panamá Oeste 3CA Independiente
Élite FC
SD Panamá Oeste
Bandera de la Provincia de Chiriqui.svg Chiriquí 2CD Atlético Chiriquí
Mario Mendez FC
Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg Coclé 1CD Universitario
Bandera de la Provincia de Colon.svg Colón 1CD Árabe Unido
Bandera de la Provincia de Herrera.svg Herrera 1Herrera FC
Bandera de la Provincia de Veraguas.svg Veraguas 1Veraguas United FC
Total16
NameCampusStadiumCapacity
600px Bianco e Nero (Strisce).svg Tauro FC Bandera de la ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Luis Ernesto Tapia 720
600px Giallo e Blu (Strisce)4.png CD Universitario Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg Penonomé Virgilio Tejeira 3,500
600px Gray HEX-C0C0C0 Black.svg CAI La Chorrera Flag of La Chorrera.svg La Chorrera Agustín Sánchez 3,500
600px Rosso e Blu3.png CD Plaza Amador Bandera de la ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Maracaná 5,500
600px Blu e Bianco (Strisce Orizzontali).png SD Panamá Oeste Flag of La Chorrera.svg La Chorrera Agustín Sánchez 3,500
600px Blu e Grigio.png SD Atlético Nacional Bandera de la ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Maracaná 5,500
600px Blu e Bianco (Orizzontali).png Veraguas United FC Bandera de la Provincia de Veraguas.svg Veraguas Rafael Rodríguez350
600px Arancio e Blu orizzontali.svg Potros del Este Bandera de la ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Maracaná 5,500
600px Bianco e Cremisi (Strisce).png Mario Méndez FC Bandera de la Provincia de Chiriqui.svg David San Cristóbal 3,500
600px Vertical Red HEX-FB090B Black.svg Sporting SM Bandera de San Miguelito (Panama).svg San Miguelito Los Andes II1,450
600px Rosso e Verde.png Atlético Chiriquí Bandera de la Provincia de Chiriqui.svg David San Cristóbal 3,500
Giallo.png Élite F.C. Flag of La Chorrera.svg La Chorrera Agustín Sánchez 3,500
600px Giallo e Blu.svg Herrera FC Bandera de la Provincia de Herrera.svg Chitré Los Milagros 1,000
600px Blu e Bianco diagonale.svg Deportivo Árabe Unido Bandera de la Provincia de Colon.svg Colón Armando Dely Valdés 4,000
600px HEX-161384 HEX-F6DE14 White.svg CIEX Academy Bandera de la ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Eagles Stadium 300
Verde e Bianco (Strisce).png Alianza F.C. Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg Panama City Luis Ernesto Tapia 720

Finals history

YearEditionChampionResultRunner-upTeams
Liga de Fútbol Femenino
2017IS.D. Atlético Nacional (1)4:2Chorrillo F.C. (1)8
Ap. 2018II Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg C.D. Universitario (1)6:1S.D. Atlético Nacional (1)16
Cl. 2019III Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg C.D. Universitario (2)6:2S.D. Atlético Nacional (2)16
Ap. 2019IV Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg C.D. Universitario (3)3:2Tauro F.C.(1)16
2020VS.D. Atlético Nacional (2)2:1Tauro F.C.(2)8
Ap. 2021VITauro F.C. (1)1:0C.D. Plaza Amador (1)12
Cl. 2021VIITauro F.C. (2)2:1C.D. Plaza Amador (2)12
2022VIIITauro F.C. (3)2:0C.D. Plaza Amador (3)16
Ap. 2023IXTauro F.C. (4)3:1Sporting SM (1)16
Cl. 2023XCancelled [2] CancelledCancelled10
Ap. 2024XISanta Fe FC4:0CIEX Sports Academy10

Superfinals

YearEditionChampionResultRunner-up
Liga de Fútbol Femenino
2020-21ITauro F.C. (1)4:1 Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg C.D. Universitario (1)
2021-22II Flag of Panama.svg Tauro FC was crowned champion of the Clausura 2021 tournament and the 2022 tournament.

Titles by team

ClubTitlesSubtitlesChampion yearsRunner-up years
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg Tauro F. C.42(A)2021, (C)2021, 2022, 2023(A)2019, (C)2020
Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg C. D. Universitario30(A)2018, (C)2019, (A)2019
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg S. D. Atlético Nacional222017, 2020(A)2018, (C)2019
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg Santa Fe FC10(A)2024
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg C. D. Plaza Amador03(A)2021, (C)2021, 2022
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg Chorrillo F. C. [nota 1] 012017
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg CIEX Sports Academy01(A)2024

Titles by province

ProvinceTitlesSubtítles
Bandera de Ciudad de Panama.svg Panama 7Tauro F.C. (4), S.D. Atlético Nacional (2), Santa Fe F.C. (1)9C.D. Plaza Amador (3), S.D. Atlético Nacional (2), Tauro F.C. (2), Chorrillo F.C. (1), CIEX Sports Academy (1)
Bandera de la Provincia de Cocle.svg Coclé 3C.D. Universitario (3)0

Notes

  1. Nowadays known as Fútbol Club Chorrillo, after its return to football in 2022.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "ACERCA DE LAS LIGAS (ACERCA DE LA LFF)". Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  2. "Suspendida la liga femenina de fútbol de Panamá por protestas". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-07-09.