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Feminine Football : The Challenge to Exist (07.08.2006)
The National female football team, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, last Saturday at the Nairobi Moi International Sports Complex, Kenya, picked up their qualification for the fifth edition of the African Cup of Nations to take place in Nigeria next September. By beating the Kenyans with heavy scores in both the home and away matches, (4-0 in Yaounde and 5-0 in Nairobi) the Lionesses confirmed why they had to be exempted from the first round qualifiers. The flawless performance is also an indication that Cameroon’s national football team has come of age and is a real force to reckon with on the African scene.
In effect, Cameroon has answered present in all editions of the African Women’s Championship. In 1998 in Nigeria, Cameroon was eliminated at the semi finals by Nigeria, 0 — 6, and went on to loss to DR Congo in the third place classification match. In 2000 in South Africa, Cameroon was eliminated during the first round. The team however came up strong in 2002 in Nigeria when it grabbed the bronze medal after beating South Africa, 3 — 0 in the third place classification match. The Indomitable Lionesses are presently the vice champion of Africa. They lost to Nigeria 0 — 4 at the final of the last Nations Cup in South Africa in 2004. From all indications, the peformance of the Lionesses is improving over the years. And if we have to go by the nine goals scored and none conceded during their last two outings, there is every reason to believe that this time, Cameoron is poised to dethrone unshakable Nigeria. The Super Falcons, the best African female team, have so far won all the editions of the feminine African Nations Cup.
The good performance of the national female football team can however be considered as a silver lining on the dark cloud of feminine football in Cameroon. A lot still has to be done to propel women’s football to the level of the senior men’s category. This has to begin with the number of clubs. There are presently very few female football teams in the country. The breeding ground for future stars is therefore lacking. This can be blamed on the lack of popularisation and sponsorship. Added to this is
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the fact that there exist no proper national championship where players can exhibit their talents. Spontaneous groupings, organised at the end of the sorts seasons, are not enough to develop women’s football in the country. At times, the players are obliged to go for an entire season, as was the case last year, without a competition.
Whereas, Cameroonian women are endowed with great football talents. Grooming and follow up is however absent. A handful of Cameroonian girls have however succeeded to break away from the amateurish football in Cameron and are already professionals abroad. According to the President of the FECAFOOT commission of feminine football, Nyobe Rose, things are bound to change. This year, for example, feminine football championship will be played at two levels The country has been divided into four zones - north, littoral, centre and west. The best teams from each zone would then face each other in the national championship. Such efforts, it is hoped, would definitely help to boost the sports.
In effect, the national football team would be the direct beneficiary if feminine football is developed in Cameroon. The example of Nigeria where both male and feminine football receive virtually the same kind of attention is a clear example. The Super Eagles are the best in Africa; and so too are the Super Falcons. For Cameroon, the gap between the female and male team is wide. In the recent FIFA ranking of feminine national football teams, Cameroon occupies the 85th position, behind Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Mali and Senegal. This is a great contrast to the 12th position (second African team) occupied by their male counterparts. In the same light, feminine football, is the only category of football not to have brought trophies to Cameroon. Now is therefore the time for feminine football to rise above the waters. There is need to put in place a championship worthy of the name. For, it is the duty of those managing the sports to do everything necessary to promote a world of social equality where every woman has an opportunity to enjoy playing football, as the beautiful game is meant for one and all.
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