Eight teams set to battle in inaugural CAF U-17 Girls tournament 2025

The inaugural CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025 is set to take place January 7-18, 2025, at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

During the draw conducted on Saturday Tanzania’s JKT Queens, City Lights Football Academy (South Sudan), Bahir Dar Kenema FC (Ethiopia) and Kenya Academy of Sports (Kenya) were placed in Group A

Meskerem Taddesse, the Head of Women Football at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw.

She was assisted by Majidah Nantanda (Uganda Women Football Legend, Coach and Instructor) and Teressa Calleb, a former Kenya’s Harambee Starlets player and a Member of CAF Women Football Committee conducted the draw.

Group B has TDS Girls Academy (Tanzania), Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team (Uganda), Aigle Noir FC (Burundi) and Hilaad FC (Somalia).

Hilaand FC from Somalia will be the first women’s team from Somalia to participate in an international women football tournament. The opening match will see JKT Queens face City Lights Football Academy from South Sudan, while Bahir Dar Kenema (Ethiopia) take on Kenya Academy of Sports in the second Group A match on January 7th, 2025.

The tournament, a pioneering initiative by CAF aims to promote the development of women’s football across Africa. It will provides a platform to showcase young female footballers, build player capacity and promote women’s football at regional and continental levels.

Group A: JKT Queens, City Lights Football Academy, Bahir Dar Kenema FC, Kenya Academy of Sports

Group B: TDS Girls Academy, Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team, Aigle Noir FC, Hilaad FC