Kenya is set to host the second Africa Women’s Cup, which will take place in Nairobi on June 28-29, 2025. The event will be co-hosted by the Homeless World Cup Foundation and Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP). This tournament is part of a collaborative project with the FIFA Foundation and four delivery partners.
Teams from eight nations—Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Uganda—will travel to the Kenyan capital to compete over two days for the title of the second-ever Africa Women’s Cup. The inaugural 4-a-side street football tournament took place in June 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania, featuring teams from Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Uganda emerged as the first champions by defeating the hosts, Tanzania, with a score of 6-1.
[ Uganda- 2024 Champions.] (Photos credit Stephen Andrews)
The project, titled “Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation,” began in December 2023 and will run until December 2025. Alongside the four delivery partners, the project has developed a new curriculum aimed at educating both men and women, as well as young girls and boys, about gender-based violence and gender equality.
Football serves as a key engagement tool in this program, helping to break down barriers and reduce stigma surrounding such sensitive topics. The curriculum has been introduced in all four partner countries, with hundreds of individuals already benefiting from this newly established initiative.
[Nancy Waweru] (Photos credit Stephen Andrews)
“Kenya is the regional hub for the project and a fitting place to hold the second Africa Women’s Cup,” said Nancy Waweru, Project Regional Hub Manager and Head of Programmes at Vijana Amani Pamoja.
The tournament is a highlight of the program, providing participants with a unique opportunity to represent their country in an international tournament. For many players, it will be their first chance to travel outside their home country and experience a new culture.
Rutendo Kuseka, who represented Zimbabwe in the Africa Women’s Cup 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania, commented:
“I think we have a different perception of what homelessness is. It’s really just a group of people coming together to showcase how best they can have fun and leave their sorrows and stresses behind. This experience has been wonderful, welcoming, and world-changing for me personally.”
[Rutendo Kuseka] (Photos credit Stephen Andrews)
We look forward to witnessing the inspiring stories that will emerge from this tournament and the continued impact it will have on the lives of many.
