Mali: Historic national women's football league to kick-off

Mali is organizing the first ever women national football league in the country’s history.

This will present players from the twelve competing teams with a chance to pursue professional careers.

#Football : depuis ce jeudi 28 avril, le #Mali a son championnat féminin, avec 12 équipes en compétition pic.twitter.com/iebiafzaTa

It will be an opportunity for many of us to get contracts to go play in Europe.

— Africanews Français (@africanewsfr) April 29, 2016

“It will be an opportunity for many of us to get contracts to go play in Europe. With the championship it is possible because the scouts come to watch us play,” says Super Club of Quinzamboungou’s captain Astan Coulibaly.

The championship is funded by the Malian Football Federation and FIFA.

“FIFA subsidizes women’s football. Every year on the subsidy that FIFA made to all affiliated federations, it requires that 15% of these are to be exclusively dedicated to the development of women’s football. It’s only been 18 million per year, paid quarterly,’‘ says Fatou Camara Traore, a member of the central committee of women’s football.

The league will be played in a round-rubbing format, where each team will meet every other team in turn.