Kicking Boundaries: How Young Women in Africa Are Changing the Game Through Football
YVA Female Football Tournament, 24 December 2023
In the heart of Panlap Town, Makeni, a different kind of revolution took place on December 24th, 2023. There were no speeches in parliament and no headlines in global media, but there was a field, a ball, a community, and a group of unstoppable young women determined to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
The Young Voices of Africa Female Football Tournament was never just about sports. It was about breaking barriers, shifting mindsets, and reclaiming active space where girls and women are often left out of the game. It was about showing that power doesn’t always wear suits; sometimes, it wears cleats.
Under the bright West African sun, girls from different neighbourhoods, schools, and backgrounds came together to play, not just for a trophy, but for a future where their dreams matter. The pitch became a platform, the game a statement: We are here. We are strong. And we are not waiting for permission.
Supported by the local YVA Ambassadors, led by Vice President Alhassan Kallon, and driven by the vision of CEO/President Kelvin Akpaloo, this pre-conference tournament kicked off a week of youth-driven transformation leading up to the Annual General Conference. It wasn't just the players who made an impact; it was the community that came to cheer them on, the young boys who learned what respect looks like, and the elders who saw the next generation lead with confidence and pride.
This tournament highlighted YVA’s African Youth Goal 4: Female Empowerment, not as a slogan, but as real action. It turned spectators into supporters and turned football into a language of freedom. Girls who once watched from the sidelines were now taking centre stage. And when one team scored, we all won.
The event sparked conversations—not just about football, but about access, equity, leadership, and the powerful ways sports can build confidence and community. The energy was electric. Laughter rang out, dust kicked up, and hearts swelled with pride. Every goal scored was a story rewritten, one where girls are no longer told what they can't do but celebrated for what they do.
As part of YVA’s commitment to youth empowerment, events like this are a crucial reminder that empowerment starts with opportunity. Give girls a space, a voice, and a reason to move, and they will move mountains.
The Young Voices of Africa Female Football Tournament may have lasted a day, but its impact will ripple through generations. It was a beautiful, defiant, and joyful celebration of what happens when young women take the lead and the world cheers them on.
Africa is rising, and her daughters are leading the charge.
