| Women's football in Nigeria | |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Governing body | Nigeria Football Federation |
| National team(s) | Women's national team |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Women's football in Nigeria has been increasing in popularity for many years. [1] The Nigerian Women's Championship is funded by the government to improve the Nigeria women's national football team. [2] Many females in Nigeria face prejudice for playing the sport. [3]
The first known mention of women's football in Nigeria is 1937 "Subsequent reports immediately following 1937 involved women playing football but those games were for amusement. [4] These were known as novelty games involving young ladies playing against middle aged men that were not considered athletically fit." The first reported game of two women teams against each other was 1944 Warri Ladies and Onitsha Ladies. [5] At 1950 the British colonists threatened the national football association to forbid women's football. [6] After becoming political independent numerous Nigerian cities hosted women's football teams by 1960. [7] Multiple efforts were made in the 1960s to start women's football clubs in South Africa, but they proved fleeting. The 1970s saw some growth, with new women's leagues in Nigeria and an expansion of women's football into Western African countries, including Senegal. In 1978 Christopher Akintunde Abisuga created a club called the sugar babes. This club was an all-female club and one of the first all-women teams. This team had much support through sponsorships and inspired players however they only lasted a few years. One local club in Dakar played a match against an Italian club in 1974; five years later, an early match between African nations was played by the Dakar side and a team from Guinea. [8]
The Nigeria Football Federation is in charge of the domestic football in the country and the national team. [9] [10] NWFL Premiership is the domestic professional league and is considered the strongest league in Africa. [11]
Despite a lack of support from Nigerian officials, 28 clubs played women's football in the country by 1989, and Nigeria's national team competed in the 1991 Women's World Cup. [12] This was made possible because of a major women's tournament privately funded by a wealthy entrepreneur. The tournament had the approval of the Nigerian FA and eventually led to the formation of the first women's national team. More women began playing football in the 1990s, in countries like Nigeria and South Africa. In 1998, CAF introduced an official African Women's Championship, following two unofficial versions of the tournament earlier in the 1990s; host country Nigeria won, beginning a stretch of five consecutive titles in the event. The next year, the squad reached the quarterfinals of the 1999 Women's World Cup. [13] The Nigerian women's national team has won eleven African cups of nation titles most recently in 2018. [14] They are also the only team that has reached the quarter-finals at the summer Olympics and the women's FIFA world cup. As of 2020, the Nigerian women's national team is ranked 38th according to FIFA's world ranking chart. Mercy Akide, a striker who played on the '99 women's national team, is considered the most famous name in African women's football. Her spectacular playing in the '99 world cup won her a college scholarship to a school in Tennessee. She is considered to be a symbol of Nigerian women's success in football and to have put African soccer on the global map. [15]
The South African Football Association is the national administrative governing body that controls the sport of football in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and is a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). SAFA was established in 1991. The South African Football Association is the second Football Association in South Africa to be named the South African Football Association and it is also the second football association in South Africa to affiliate to FIFA. The present day South African Football Association, unlike its predecessor allows for a mixed-race national team.
The Senegalese Football Federation is the governing body of football in Senegal. It is based in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, and was founded in 1960. The FSF aided in the development of football in Senegal, specifically for its professional and amateur leagues, youth and women's football and academies. Currently the FSF oversees the professional leagues, run by the Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel (LSFP) and fully organises the national teams, youth, women's and amateur football and all football administration.
Football is the most popular sport in Nigeria. The Nigeria national football team competes regularly for international titles and many Nigerian footballers compete in Europe, particularly in England. Nigeria has one of the finest national teams in Africa and has produced many notable footballers including Mudashiru Lawal, Rashidi Yekini, Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Mikel John Obi.
The Ivory Coast women's national football team represents Ivory Coast in international women's football and is controlled by the Ivorian Football Federation. They played their first international match in 1988. The team is currently ranked 64th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings and as the 6th best team in CAF.
The Kenya women's national football team represents Kenya in women's football and is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation.
The Lesotho women's national football team is the national team of Lesotho and is controlled by the Lesotho Football Association.
The Liberia women's national football team represents Liberia in international women's football. It is governed by the Liberia Football Association. It has played in five FIFA recognized matches.
The Libya women's national football team is the national football team of Libya. It does not have FIFA recognition. It is not ranked by FIFA. There are development plans in the country to improve the state of women's football.
The Mauritania women's national football team represents Mauritania in international women's football and is controlled by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (FFIRM). The team played its first international match in 2019 as a friendly against Djibouti in which they lost three to one. Fatou Dioup scored Mauritania's first international goal.
The Niger women's national football team represents Niger in international women's football. It is governed by the Nigerien Football Federation. It has played in four FIFA recognised matches, two of which were losses to Burkina Faso women's national football team in 2007. There is an under-20 women's national team who were supposed to participate in the 2002 African Women U-19 Championship but withdrew before playing a game. There are problems that impact the development of the women's game in Africa that effect Niger.
The São Tomé and Príncipe women's national football team represents São Tomé and Príncipe in international women's football. It is governed by the São Toméan Football Federation. It has played in six FIFA recognised matches and has never been internationally ranked by FIFA. The country also has a national under-19 team.
The Sierra Leone women's national football team is governed by the Sierra Leone Football Association.
The Lesotho women's national under-17 team represents the country in international competitions.
The Lesotho women's national under-20 football team represents the country in international youth women's football competitions.
The Kenya women's national under-20 football team represents Kenya at an under-20 level in women's football and is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation.
The Kenya women's national under-17 football team represents Kenya at an under-17 level in women's football and is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation.
Women's football in Africa can be divided into distinct historical periods. Football is one of several sports played by women in Africa with the sport facing several challenges during development. Initially seen as a male participant sport women have long held leadership and support roles within football in Africa.
Football is the most popular sport in Africa. Indeed, football is probably the most popular sport in every African country, although rugby and cricket are also very popular in South Africa.
Women's football in Seychelles faces several development problems inside the country including a lack of popularity for the sport, and few female players and teams. Women have gained football leadership positions in the country with one coaching a men's team and another umpiring international matches. There are other development issues for the sport that are ones facing the whole of Africa.
Women's football in Madagascar faces several development problems inside the country including a lack of popularity for the sport, and few female players and teams. Women have gained football leadership positions in the country with one coaching a men's team and another umpiring international matches. There are other development issues for the sport that are ones facing the whole of Africa.
