By Agnes Amondi

For many decades, football has been viewed only as the men’s game. Despite the strides being made by African countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Algeria, Mali and so many others to improve Women’s football, there still exists a challenge for many talented female footballers to positively develop their career.

In African tradition, a woman is expected to stay home and take care of the family while the man goes into the field to work. Many girls have failed to participate in football due to the roles they are expected to perform in society.

Hence the Confederation of African Football, CAF wants to change this trend and has launched its objectives and action plan for its final pillar, social Impact, in its five year strategy to develop women’s football in Africa.

The objectives of social impact pillar are:

– Using the power of football to make a positive social impact for girls and women around Africa

– Partnering with international organizations and Non-governmental Organizations at the grassroots level to educate the girls

– Promoting the image of football through ambassadors to encourage participation

The action plan include:

– Identifying a team of ambassadors to raise the profile of the women’s game

– Incorporating social messaging and educational elements into grassroots development program, and

– Building strategic partnerships with international organizations and Non-governmental Organizations to highlight the positive impacts of football on girls and women.

All of the five focus areas and pillars include:

– Development

– Competitions

– Marketing and Promotions

– Professionalism and Leadership, and

– Social Impact

With more and more involvement of CAF at the grass-root and implementation of its social impact pillar, it is hoped that more girls and women across Africa will be encouraged to take up football as a gainful career.