The Sports Ministry of Rwanda has asked the country’s Football Association to withdraw from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
It said in a letter to the Rwanda Football Association this is necessitated because of the lack of women’s competitions in the country since 2019.
Adding the Rwanda women’s national team is not competitive enough to make a mark in the qualifiers if they are allowed to participate in the qualifying series.
This was in response to a request by the Rwanda FA to open camp and prepare for their first round of qualifying games against Djibouti later this month.
“Reference is made to your letter… dated October 05, 2021, requesting to non-objection to convene the Senior Women’s National Football Staff and for starting the camp to prepare for ‘Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 Matches,” the letter started.
“Referring to the recent performance results from the qualifiers game played against Ethiopia which showed the low level of our women’s football;
“Referring to our women football, especially recalling the fact that there has been no championship since 2019 and being mindful of the impact on the sports sector caused by COVID-19;
“As much as we appreciate your intent to have our National Women Football Team represent Rwanda in the Afcon 2022 Women’s Qualifiers;
“The recommendation is first made to develop a long-term development plan for women’s football and resume a National Football competition to allow the players to prepare and play first locally before eying to compete in regional and continental competitions.
“It is against the above that the request is made for FERWAFA to inform organizers of the upcoming Total Women’s African Cup of Nations 2022 that Rwanda Women National Team will not participate.”
The Rwanda women’s national team last participated in a tournament in 2018 during the CECAFA tournament in Kigali.
By Abdul Karim Adamu Benin | www.sportyafrica.com
