DAR ES SALAAM: AS Tanzania prepares to host the CAF Girls U-17 Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT), the national representatives, JKT Queens and TDS Girls, have learned their group opponents from Saturday’s draw.
JKT Queens have been placed in Group A alongside City Lights Football Academy from South Sudan, Bahir Dar Kenema FC from Ethiopia and Kenya Academy of Sports from Kenya.
TDS Girls are also in Group A, where they will compete against Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team from Uganda, Aigle Noir FC from Burundi and Hilaad FC from Somalia.
This historic event will feature eight teams from the CECAFA region, with all matches taking place at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The event will begin on Tuesday and continue until January 18, 2025. The tournament, a pioneering initiative by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), aims to promote the development of women’s football across Africa.
It serves as a platform to showcase the skills of these rising stars and is a significant step towards building player capacity and advancing women’s football at both regional and continental levels.
CAF’s commitment to gender equality and empowering the next generation of female footballers is evident in this initiative.
The tournament is part of a broader strategy to increase girls’ participation in football, encourage investment in women’s football infrastructure and create pathways for young players transitioning from school football to competitive leagues.
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In addition to the competition, the event will feature a CAF D-License coaching course and a media workshop, both designed to promote best practices in coaching and communications.
The partnership with Azam TV and CAF TV will provide live coverage across the continent, making the event accessible to audiences far and wide. Community engagement will also be a central focus of the tournament.
In conjunction with the matches, there will be a girls’ football festival, sports clinics and health awareness campaigns in collaboration with UEFA.
These initiatives will leave a lasting legacy for local communities in Tanzania, further promoting the growth of women’s football in the country and beyond.
