This archive report was first published on 10 September 2021.
Confederation of African Football (Caf) President Patrice Motsepe's promise to prioritize women's football has been put to the test with a proposal to make Caf Champions League teams have a female team starting from the 2022/23 season.
However, the plan has been met with skepticism, with critics arguing that it may put unnecessary pressure on clubs and exacerbate existing financial challenges in women's football.
According to a report, the plan was announced by Caf Club Licensing Senior Manager Muhammad Sidat, but it has been criticized for lacking a clear plan for inclusivity and equality.
One of the concerns is that women's teams are likely to suffer most under the new plan, as they face deep financial challenges across the continent.
For instance, Vihiga Queens, the champions of the Kenya Women Premier League, are reportedly better off financially than Vihiga United, a male team that is no longer supported by the Vihiga county government.
Similarly, Thika Queens are said to be many times better off than Thika United, while Kisumu AllStarlets are reportedly better off than Kisumu AllStars.
Only Ulinzi Stars can be said to be at par with Ulinzi Starlets, due to obvious reasons.
Asking male teams to establish and support female outfits is seen as putting unnecessary pressure on the clubs, especially when they are struggling to pay their male players and honor fixtures.
Moreover, the plan lacks guidelines on the level of dependence between male and female sides of the same team, which could lead to high inequality and undermine the spirit of inclusivity.
With the plan lacking a clear long-term funding plan, it remains to be seen whether it will be a success or a recipe for disaster.
As one Twitter user reacted, "If the 'big reveal' after months of thinking is this, then some people want sacking."
Debates about inclusivity and equality in sport are not a chance for political point-scoring, but rather a call for real people's careers to be taken seriously.
