Sports

FIFA orders representation of female coaches across all women’s tournaments

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said the move is designed to address the shortage of women in coaching roles at the highest level.

Published

5 months ago

March 22, 2026

OCHEFA

289 Views

FIFA has directed all teams participating in its women’s competitions to include at least one female head coach or assistant as part of new regulations aimed at boosting women’s representation in coaching.

The directive, approved by the FIFA Council, will take effect from the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups as well as the Women’s Champions Cup.

Teams will also be required to have a minimum of two female staff members on the bench across all women’s tournaments, from youth to senior level.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said the move is designed to address the shortage of women in coaching roles at the highest level.

“There are simply not enough women in coaching today. We must do more to accelerate change by creating clearer pathways, expanding opportunities, and increasing visibility for women on our sidelines,” Ellis said.

She described the regulations, alongside targeted development programmes, as a significant investment in both current and future generations of female coaches.

Ellis highlighted the disparity at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, where only 12 of the 32 head coaches were women, figures that do not reflect the rapid growth of the women’s game globally.

She noted that Sarina Wiegman was the only female coach to reach the latter stages of the tournament, guiding England to a second-place finish.

According to FIFA data, women account for just five percent of coaches across both men’s and women’s teams worldwide.

A separate 2024 benchmarking report covering 86 women’s leagues found that only 22 per cent of head coaches are women.

Related Topics:Featured FIFA female coaches directive

Up Next

Odegbami: Why CAF should return AFCON 2025 trophy back to Senegal

Don't Miss

CAF Strips Senegal of AFCON title, crowns Morocco champions

Click to comment

Sports

‎NFF Crisis: NSC Names Ikpeme Acting General – Secretary., Ademola Olajire, Deputy

‎The appointments followed the resignations on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General – Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.‎‎

Published

2 days ago

August 28, 2026

OCHEFA

19 Views

[File photo] Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme

‎The National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as Acting General -Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a major leadership shake-up in the country’s football governing body.‎

‎Ikpeme, who previously served as the NFF Deputy General – Secretary, will oversee the federation’s secretariat during the transition period, while Dr Ademola Olajire, former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General -Secretary.

The NSC also suspended all processes initiated for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27.

Sports

NFF President Gusau, other board members resign Over DSS Probe

The latest probe comes amid persistent public concerns over the administration of Nigerian football teams that have suffered severe systemic decline, highlighted by the Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups and the historic failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Published

3 days ago

August 27, 2026

OCHEFA

30 Views

The President of Nigeria Football Federation( NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, and other board members have resigned.

The NFF board had come under intense pressure following the poor management of Nigerian football.

The latest debacle was the failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA Women World Cup for the first time.

The Department of State Services, DSS, joined other security operatives in investigating the NFF over the utilisation of the N17bn Federal Government intervention fund released to the Federation for players’ wages and bonuses.

The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.

An authoritative source said on Monday, that the DSS had beamed their searchlight on officials of NFF to show proof on what they did with the massive fund released to the Glass house.

It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them,” our source said, dismissing fears of witch hunt or hounding.

Sports

Ronaldo To End Career In Football This Year Without World Cup Title

The 41-year-old Portugal captain is one of football’s most decorated players, having won major trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current club Al-Nassr.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 18, 2026

OCHEFA

105 Views

Cristiano Ronaldo says this could be his final year in football as the Portugal captain prepares to leave a lasting legacy.

“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told lifestyle magazine Vogue in an interview published on Sunday.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain is one of football’s most decorated players, having won major trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and current club Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo made his senior debut for Sporting in 2002 and has enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 976 goals for club and country and is now closing in on the 1,000-goal milestone.

However, Ronaldo was unable to add a World Cup title to his list of honours after Portugal fell short at this year’s tournament.