Johansen urges Africa to pay serious attention to women football

Sierra Leone FA President, Madam Isha Johansen yesterday charged African countries to pay more attention to the women game, saying football should lead the way in liberating the African girl child.

Johansen, who is a member of the CAF executive committee, as well as president CAF Women’s Committee, was speaking at the on-going symposium on women football in Morocco, where African football leaders have gathered to deliberate on the development of women football.

In an emotion emotional and strong opening plenary remarks, Johansen said,“Africa has woken up to the reality that she has to raise her game. The narrative of the New African Woman has changed.” 

In his opening speech, CAF President, Ahmad hoped the symposium would come out with binding resolutions, echoing Johansen’s belief in the ability of women to lead the continent to a new era of football development.

The CAF Women’s Football Symposium, a first on the continent, is to draw the trajectory for “a new take-off” for women’s football in Africa following a tripod of “success, performance and achievement,” Ahmad said. Among the prominent guests for the two-day event are Liberia First Lady, Clar Weah and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. Madam Samoura indicated since her appointment to the position two years ago, FIFA has seen an increase of 32 per cent to 48 per cent of women among the total workforce of 653.