In a region where men’s football has long dominated the spotlight, Mauritania is about to make sporting history — and this time, it’s the women who will take center stage. From May 18 to 31, the West African country will host the inaugural edition of the WAFU Zone A Women’s Cup, marking its first-ever international women’s football tournament.
The event, organized under the West African Football Union (WAFU), will see eight national teams — including powerhouses like Senegal, Mali, and Guinea — competing for regional glory. It’s a significant milestone for a country where women’s sports have historically been sidelined by cultural norms, infrastructural limitations, and lack of political will.
For Mauritania, the tournament is about more than just goals and trophies. It’s a statement. A declaration that women deserve a seat at the football table — and on the pitch.
“This is a turning point for us,” says Mariem Sow, a Mauritanian midfielder and vocal advocate for women’s sports. “For years, we trained on half-broken fields and played in front of barely a dozen people. Now we have an international tournament on home soil. It’s a dream come true.”
The move aligns with broader efforts across the continent to expand opportunities for women athletes. CAF (the Confederation of African Football) has been pushing for increased visibility and funding for the women’s game, which remains significantly under-supported compared to its male counterpart. And with women’s football gaining popularity globally, African federations are beginning to catch up.
Senegal enters the tournament as the team to beat, having won the last two editions of unofficial regional championships. But newcomers like Sierra Leone and Gambia are eager to upset the status quo. For Mauritania, just fielding a competitive team is a victory in itself.
The local government has invested heavily in preparation, upgrading stadiums in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, and rolling out campaigns encouraging families to attend matches. Sponsorship deals — rare in women’s sports in the region — have also started trickling in.
“We’re building something from the ground up,” says Coach Amadou Diallo, who heads Mauritania’s national women’s team. “And we’re doing it in a place where just five years ago, people questioned whether girls should even play football.”
Off the field, the tournament is sparking vital conversations. Debates on national TV and social media are highlighting issues of gender equality, access to sport, and cultural perceptions. For many young Mauritanian girls, seeing women in national jerseys playing in packed stadiums may prove transformative.
“There’s a 12-year-old girl watching who thinks, ‘That could be me one day,’” says Sow. “That’s how change begins.”
Indeed, this is more than just a cup — it’s a cultural pivot. Mauritania may not win the title, but it’s already secured a major victory for gender inclusion in sport. As the first whistle blows on May 18, the message will be loud and clear: the girls are here to play — and they’re not sitting on the sidelines anymore.
