Burundi
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Fédération de Football du Burundi
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
FIFA code BDI
First colours
Second colours
First international
n/a

The Burundi women's national football team has not competed in a single FIFA recognised match, and have only participated in the competition organised by the Confederation of African Football in Zanzibar in 2007. While the senior A team is inactive in FIFA recognised events, an under-20 team exists that has played in several matches. Further development of football in the country faces several challenges faced by around Africa. Country specific issues include a women's programme only created in 2000, and only 455 registered players by 2006.

The team[edit]

In 1985, almost no country in the world had a women's national football team,[1] including Burundi[2][3] who did not even have a FIFA trigammed as BDI[4][3] recognised national A level team by 2006.[2] By 2009, while still lacking a FIFA recognised senior national team, there was a FIFA recognised Burundi women's under-20 national team.[5] The U-20 team played 1 international match in 2002, 1 in 2004 and 1 in 2006. [2]

Burundi women's national football team has never competed in a FIFA sanctioned fixture[3] and has not competed at the Women's World Cup[6][3] though in 2007, the team was one of 200 women's teams preparing for the qualification tournament for the Women's World Cup.[7] They were supposed to have participated in several events but withdrew.[8][9][10] These include the 2008 African Women Championship eliminations but withdrew from the tournament, thus allowing Congo automatic qualification.[8] It also includes the 2010 African Women's Championships.[9] The same is true of the 2012 Africa Women's Seniors Championships, which the team withdrew from the competition prior to the first round qualifier.[10] Other events on the continent they never participated in, including the 2011 All Africa Games.[11] In March 2012, the team was not ranked in the world by FIFA.[12][13]

Burundi participated in a competition in 2007 organised by the Confederation of African Football in Zanzibar. The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) secretary, Nicholas Musonye said of the event, "CAF wants to develop women football in this region in recognition of the milestones Cecafa has achieved over the years. CAF appreciates what Cecafa has done despite the hardships the association has gone through, from financial problems to political instability in member states and poor management of associations. Member states in the Cecafa region have not taken women's football seriously. CAF now wants to sponsor a long-term campaign to attract women from this region into the game." [14]

Background and development[edit]

Women's football is now big deal. The standard that we have attained in Africa is good enough. Soon, an African team will challenge seriously for the World Cup. But we need far more support from governments and big business
Lydie Nsekera, female head of the Burundi Football Association[15]

The development of women's football in Africa faces several challenges, including limited access to education, poverty amongst women in the wider society, and fundamental inequality present in the society that occasionally allows for female specific human rights abuses.[16] When quality female footballers are produced, many leave the country for better opportunities elsewhere.[17] Another issue facing women's football is football institutional. Most of the funding for the sport in Africa comes from FIFA, not from the national football federation.[17]

Inside Burundi, a woman's football programme was first created in 2000.[5] By 2006, there were 455 registered women players.[2] The lack of efforts to develop the women's games are a problem when it comes to the national team. Fufa President Lawrence Mulindwa addressed this saying, "We had a girls' tournament in Luweero earlier this year and top players are going to be assembled into a national team to contest at the inaugural Cecafa Women's Challenge Cup to be held in Zanzibar in October."[18] Lydia Nsekera, a woman, is the head of the national football association.[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chrös McDougall (1 January 2012). Soccer. ABDO. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61783-146-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Women's Football Today" (PDF). 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2012.  Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "fifabook" defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d "Burundi: Fixtures and Results". FIFA. Retrieved 2012-04-16. 
  4. ^ Tom Dunmore (16 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Soccer. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7188-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012. 
  5. ^ a b "Goal! Football: Burundi" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 4. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  6. ^ Ballard, John; Suff, Paul (1999). The dictionary of football : the complete A-Z of international football from Ajax to Zinedine Zidane. London: Boxtree. p. 106. ISBN 0752224344. OCLC 59442612. 
  7. ^ "Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM: Over 200 Countries Gear Up for Women's World Cup". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. September 8, 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  8. ^ a b Omorodion, Patrick (December 2, 2007). "Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM: Super Falcons Take a Rest as Women Battle". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  9. ^ a b "Fixtures - African Women Championship 2010 - CAF". Cafonline.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13. 
  10. ^ a b Bakama, James (January 15, 2012). "New Vision (Uganda) - AAGM: Crested Cranes in Danger". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  11. ^ "Groups & standings - All Africa Games women 2011 - CAF". Cafonline.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13. 
  12. ^ "The FIFA Women's World Ranking". FIFA.com. 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2012-04-13. 
  13. ^ "Classement mondial féminin de la FIFA". 23 septembre 2011.  Unknown parameter |site= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |consulté le= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "The Nation (Kenya) - AAGM: CAF to Fund Regional Women's Championships". Daily Nation. Nairobi, Kenya. January 4, 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  15. ^ Olajire, Ademola (November 5, 2006). "Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM: Wesley Canvasses Greater Support for Women Football". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 16 April 2012. 
  16. ^ Jean Williams (15 December 2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-84520-674-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012. 
  17. ^ a b c Gabriel Kuhn (24 February 2011). Soccer Vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics. PM Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-60486-053-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012. 
  18. ^ Bugingo, Douglas (August 29, 2007). "The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM: Investment in Youth Soccer Reaping Rewards - Mulindwa". The Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 16 April 2012.