A FIFA delegation, led by Secretary General Fatma Samoura and including Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman, attended the CAF Women’s Champions League match for third place, which saw Morocco’s ASFAR beat Equatorial Guinea’s Malabo Kings FC 3-1, before the eagerly awaited final between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies. The South African side clinched the crown with a 2-0 victory.
The tournament saw a total of 33 teams from Africa’s six zonal regions battle it out to secure their place among the final eight teams who went head to head in Egypt in a bid to secure the CAF Women’s Champions League trophy.
Speaking about the tournament, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: ”I’m thrilled to have seen the best of African women’s club football display their outstanding talent and skill during this competition. This tournament is historic and provides a fantastic platform to show young girls around Africa that women’s football is growing and they too can be part of it. I’m proud of the performances of all of the teams involved and they should have a tremendous feeling of accomplishment having reached this prestigious competition.”
FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman added: ”The successful planning and hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League was an important milestone for the female game in Africa. It provided clubs the chance to showcase their talent and what we have seen has been extremely impressive. This important competition will play a vital role in the professionalization of women’s football in Africa as we will start to see clubs and leagues strengthen their structures, driven by a top-level competition”.
The final of the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League was also attended by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sport Professor Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo Omba and CAF Vice President’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi and Kanizat Ibrahim.
During her working visit in Cairo, the FIFA Secretary General attended fruitful meetings with the CAF Secretary General and the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sport. Central to discussions was the Egyptian Football Association’s upcoming elective congress and the possibility for future collaboration between Egypt, CAF and FIFA to nourish and develop football.
source:FIFA.COM
