160 goals scored at the Africa Women’s Cup but none more important than the goal to end Gender Based Violence
Kenya (hosts), Uganda (Africa Women’s Cup 2024 winners) Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all took part in the tournament.
The second Africa Women’s Cup took place last weekend (28th – 29th June) and it was 2024 winners Uganda, who successfully defended their title to become 2025 Africa Women’s Cup Champions.
160 goals were scored across the two days of footballing action, that’s just over six goals a game in the second tournament of its kind, which was held alongside Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP) our Homeless World Cup Kenyan Member Country.
Matches were played at VAP’s centre for youth empowerment, on an Homeless World Cup-style pitch, using the unique 4-a-side format, which produces very fast and high-scoring games.
Alongside the football being played in Kenya, there were several important moments and messages around the issue of Gender-Based Violence in Africa.
Before a ball was kicked in Nairobi, at a special Pan-African Summit, alongside four of our Homeless World Cup Member Countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), the Homeless World Cup Foundation proudly launched the Evaluation Report Year 1, of the 'Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation' project, in partnership with the FIFA Foundation.
At the Summit, which was attended by over 200 people, Zoe Hopkins, International Network Manager at the Homeless World Cup Foundation, shared that over 850 girls and women, alongside 500 boys and men, have already been engaged through specifically designed football-based curriculums that address themes of gender equality, positive masculinities and prevention, protection and recovery from gender-based violence.
The Summit was an opportunity for government representatives, NGOs, academics and youth from the project to share best practices on what works to reduce gender-based violence and improve the mental health of Africa’s youth.
The transformative power of sport and in particular football is helping to create safer communities across Africa.
The two-day tournament was full of colour, cheer, smiles and friendship from the Opening Parade on Saturday morning to the Award Ceremony on Sunday afternoon.
Fans, who came to watch in their hundreds with hardly any empty seats across the two days of action were treated to some wonderful football. Hosts Kenya kicked the 2025 Africa Women’s Cup off in fine form, beating Zimbabwe in the first match.
The goals continued to flow throughout the first morning of action with the net bursting 33 times in four matches.
Zambia just got their noses in front against newcomers Egypt, who put in a brave performance but narrowly lost 4-3 to Zambia in their first game.
Last year’s winners Uganda didn’t have it all their own way in their opening encounter, as they narrowly beat Ivory Coast in their first game, Ivory Coast were playing at the tournament for the first time.
Another team making their Africa Women’s Cup debut was Ghana, who started strongly with a 5-1 victory over last year’s hosts, Tanzania.
There were two rounds of matches on Saturday afternoon and true to form from the morning games, it was hosts Kenya, defending champions Uganda and newcomers Ivory Coast and Ghana who had the better of the results in the late Nairobi sunshine with Kenya and Ghana topping group A and Uganda and Ivory Coast topping group B.
Sunday was Finals Day at the VAP centre; teams kicked off the day with a quarter-final match before playing in either the top tier or bottom tier of semi-finals before the finals.
Pick of the quarter-finals was a tight affair between Ivory Coast and Tanzania, both sides cancelling each other out and it was just the one goal which saw Ivory Coast progress.The two teams who topped the groups on Saturday, Kenya and Uganda were deserved finalists, but Uganda needed penalties to see off a valiant effort from Ghana in their semi-final.
On a thrilling finals day, Uganda proved too strong for the other African Homeless World Cup Member Countries and clinched victory with a pulsating 4-2 win over hosts Kenya in the Final. Cheered on by over 300 locals, Kenya were always behind in the Final and just couldn’t find another gear after a long day of football in the Nairobi sunshine.
Fans in attendance were treated to a match packed with entertainment, a fitting finale to a wonderful two days of footballing action in Nairobi.
Zoe Hopkins, International Network Manager at the Homeless World Cup Foundation, said:
“What a weekend we had in Nairobi. The football on show between our 8 teams has been nothing short of sensational. From the first whistle to the last, our players have given us some memorable moments across the two days here in Kenya’s capital.
“Congratulations to Uganda for winning their second Africa Women’s Cup in a row and a huge thank you to our hosts in Kenya, VAP who created a wonderful environment and venue for our second Africa Women’s Cup tournament.
“We were thrilled to be involved in the Pan-African Summit on the Friday before the tournament, which was a huge success. This tournament is the highlight of our two-year project supported by the FIFA Foundation focused on using football to raise awareness and develop a deeper understanding of the causes and effects of gender-based violence. Working jointly with young women and men, the project activities guide them to more positive attitudes on gender equality and to become champions for ending GBV.
“In Kenya, we brought teams together from North, East, South and West Africa to celebrate their year-round work and the power of the beautiful game.”
