Dancing To Female Football Rhythms

The much-awaited Women Africa Football Cup of Nations competition is set to begin in Cameroon.
 


 Eight nations from different parts of Africa are finally in Cameroon for the tenth Africa Women Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition taking place from 19 November to 3 December, 2016. Most, if not all of the best countries known for their talents in female football are involved. That alone is indicative of the quality of play that fans are gearing up to watch.

Nigeria, with a total of nine participations holds a record presence and has remained the Achilles’ heel of host country, Cameroon.  Luckily, both sides will not be in the same pool at the group stage of the competition. While Ghana, Kenya, and Mali will battle it out with Nigeria in the seaside town of Limbe, Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe are going to be in the nation’s capital, Yaounde, alongside Cameroon.

The enthusiasm that the event has generated across the continent clearly reflects the growing popularity of female football. The warm-up matches that Cameroon has been engaged in over the last two months helped to give a foretaste of the high-level spectacle expected from the participating teams. Facing Mali and Kenya that are in Group B, the Indomitable Lionesses demonstrated a sense of purpose and determination. Even the Tanzanians who are not part of the Cameroon 2016 AFCON gave the Lionesses a run for their money in their last test match on Sunday 13 November 2016.

They beat the Lionesses 2-1 to send a simple message that it may be too early for fans of the team to count on home advantage alone for victories. In addition, the lone defeat faced by the Lionesses in all the friendly games obliged Head Coach, Carl Enow Ngachu to sit-up with his girls to overcome the runners-up position they occupied in 1991, 2004 and 2014. Neighbouring Nigeria has in each of the cases eliminated Cameroon at the finals to carry home the trophy.

Thus, there is every reason to think that the 2016 Female AFCON may be a turning point in the history of the competition both for host, Cameroon and the entire event. An increase in cash prize for the winners as from the next edition announced by Africa Football Confederation (CAF) will surely augur well for female football. Officials of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, who have until now given little consideration to female football, definitely need to change after this tenth edition.

Sports and social infrastructure intended to ensure a successful hosting of the competition in Cameroon initially appeared to be an uphill task until the Head of State designated the Prime Minister, Head of Governme...

Reactions

Commentaires

    List is empty.

Laissez un Commentaire

De la meme catégorie