“CAF’s programme has improved women's football in Africa” -Toure
- Adamu Muftawu
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Former Ivory Coast women's national team star Clémentine Touré has reacted positively about the significant progress of women football on the continent and globally.
The Ivorian women’s football legend emphasized to Pan-Africa Football that the priority placed on the growth of women's football by the Confederation of African Football [CAF] and FIFA has stimulated the rise of the game.
“It must be said that there has been real progress. There has been progress because women's football has become a priority for CAF and also for FIFA,” Touré said.
“Several programs that have been implemented address the issue of self-discipline. Today, with CAF's program and project on the new zonal organization, I think it has really allowed Africa to develop football, especially women's football, in each zone.
“There are regular competitions organized by the different zones, and this means that more female players are playing football. There is the U-17, U-20, and senior categories that play football.”
Touré’s playing time in Ghana saw her spend just four months in the Ashanti Region at Dreams Ladies before leaving in search of better opportunities.
Touré, 48, transitioned into coaching after hanging her boots in 2004, beginning her experience at Ivorian lower tier side, Jeanne d’Arc Treichville, before stints at Equatoguinean club Aguilas Verdes de Guadalupe. The most notable stops on her coaching career have been stints with Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast national team.
She told Pan-Africa Football about how difficult it was to start her coaching career and rising to the top after ending her playing journey.
“The beginning was very difficult because I had a hard time being accepted. During the training, people asked about my qualification. It was just that there were no limits for women."
“By the grace of God, I was able to upgrade my certificates, and being the only woman among the men to upgrade my qualifications among the same men, I was gradually able to be accepted,” Touré told Pan-Africa Football.
Touré was in Ghana alongside legends Asamoah Gyan and Abedi Pele to monitor the CAF U-15 Schools Championship where the West African nation claimed gold in the female category with Tanzania winning the male category at the Legon Sports Stadium.
