In a move aimed at empowering women and promoting women's football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that any men's team without a women's side will be ineligible to participate in future CAF Champions League competitions, starting from the 2023/24 season.
This decision aligns with CAF's commitment to enhancing the growth and development of women's football, as emphasized in the four-year women's football strategic plan launched in November 2021. CAF President Patrice Motsepe has expressed his determination to drive significant progress and prosperity in women's football during his tenure.
The CAF Club Licensing Board has issued a statement highlighting the requirement for clubs to have a women's team in order to qualify for the upcoming 2023-2024 CAF Champions League and subsequent editions.
In the Ghanaian football scene, only Hearts of Oak, who compete in the top-flight league, currently have a competitive women's team known as Nimobi Ladies FC in the Women's Division One League. Asante Kotoko had previously expressed their intentions to adopt Fabulous Ladies ahead of the 2020/21 season, but the plans did not materialize.
This development means that other Ghanaian clubs participating in the Premier League will need to establish women's teams to meet the eligibility criteria for African competitions starting from the next season.
At present, it is likely that either Medeama SC or Bechem United, who are competing for the 2022/23 betPawa Premier League title, will represent Ghana in the CAF Champions League. Meanwhile, King Faisal and Dreams FC will vie for the MTN FA Cup, which grants a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
However, according to CAF's latest release, none of these clubs meet the eligibility requirements due to the absence of a women's team. This underscores the importance of establishing women's sides within Ghanaian clubs to enable their participation in continental competitions.
However, clubs who wish to participate in the CAF Club competitions can affiliate with an entity that operates a women's first team club. It therefore behooves on these clubs to join forces with either one of the women's premier league teams to be able to be accepted into the competition next season.
