Women's football in Nigeria
Women's football in Nigeria | |
---|---|
Country | Nigeria |
Governing body | Nigeria Football Federation |
National team(s) | Women's national team |
National competitions | |
Nigerian Women's Cup | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Africa Women Cup of Nations (National Team) |
Women's football in Nigeria has been increasing in popularity for many years.
History
The first known mention of women's football in Nigeria is 1937 "Subsequent reports immediately following 1937 involved women playing football but those games were for amusement.[4] These were known as novelty games involving young ladies playing against middle aged men that were not considered athletically fit." The first reported game of two women teams against each other was 1944 Warri Ladies and Onitsha Ladies.[5] At 1950 the British colonists threatened the national football association to forbid women's football.[6] After becoming political independent numerous Nigerian cities hosted women's football teams by 1960.[7] Multiple efforts were made in the 1960s to start women's football clubs in South Africa, but they proved fleeting. The 1970s saw some growth, with new women's leagues in Nigeria and an expansion of women's football into Western African countries, including Senegal. In 1978 Christopher Akintunde Abisuga created a club called the sugar babes. This club was an all-female club and one of the first all-women teams. This team had much support through sponsorships and inspired players however they only lasted a few years. One local club in Dakar played a match against an Italian club in 1974; five years later, an early match between African nations was played by the Dakar side and a team from Guinea.[8]
Domestic football
The Nigeria Football Federation is in charge of the domestic football in the country and the national team.[9][10] NWFL Premiership is the domestic professional league and is considered the strongest league in Africa.[11]
National team
Despite a lack of support from Nigerian officials, 28 clubs played women's football in the country by 1989, and
See also
References
- ^ "In African Women's Soccer, Homophobia Remains an Obstacle". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
- ^ "How Nigeria plans to redefine women's football". Goal.
- ^ "Can Nigeria change a continent's mentality?" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- S2CID 144427496– via tandfonline.com (Atypon).
- ^ "Nigeria – Forgotten Heroines". Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- ^ Onwumechili, Chuka; Goodman, Jasmin. "Women's football in Nigeria has a long history of defiance". The Conversation.
- ^ Fowowe, Solomon (28 May 2019). "Women's World Cup 2019 team guide No 4: Nigeria". Retrieved 3 June 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ISBN 978-0-89680-278-0. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "NFF inaugurates Nigeria Women Football League board - Vanguard News". 5 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "African women's champions Nigeria in fight for 'welfare'". 9 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Flourishing league kicks off again". March 17, 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- S2CID 244758502– via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
- ^ Alegi, pp. 121–123.
- ^ "Nigeria's Africa Women Cup of Nations win shows interest is on the up". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2017-03-01. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-89680-278-0. Retrieved 3 April 2016.