GFA Set to Launch Nationwide U15 Girls Colts Leagues for 2025/26 Season

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to introduce U15 Girls Colts Leagues across all ten football regions in the country as part of its ongoing commitment to advancing women’s football.

This initiative aligns with the GFA’s comprehensive Women’s Football Strategy and is supported by FIFA’s Women’s Football Development programs, underscoring a strong partnership to nurture grassroots female talent in Ghana.

With backing from FIFA Women’s Football Development, the GFA is working to establish structured regional leagues for girls under 15 years of age. This comes after a successful proposal submitted by the Women’s Football Development Desk within the GFA Technical Directorate, led by Prof. Joseph Kwame Mintah. The program forms a critical pillar in the strategic framework aimed at sustainable growth in women’s football nationwide.

The U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues are designed to provide young female footballers with a competitive and well-organized platform to hone their skills and showcase their talents. Through these leagues, the GFA hopes to inspire and empower the next generation of female athletes, reinforcing the association’s vision to make women’s football a cornerstone of its overall development agenda.

Beyond just competition, the leagues will create a clear pathway for talented players to progress through the ranks, eventually advancing to higher levels of the sport, including national team selections.

In addition to player development, the initiative will include educational programs aimed at improving the quality and retention of coaches, referees, and other officials involved in the game. This holistic approach seeks to strengthen the entire ecosystem surrounding women’s football.

Dame Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “We hope that our partnership will help achieve your strategic goals in developing women’s football in Ghana and enable more girls and women to access the game.”

The Regional Football Associations (RFAs) will play a crucial role in implementing these leagues locally, bridging the existing gap between boys’ and girls’ football and ensuring equal opportunities for young female players.

The program will feature 80 U15 girls’ teams nationwide, engaging over 3,300 young female athletes. Notably, the initiative also includes the integration of “Catch Them Young” girl referees, who will be part of the officiating teams, further supporting female participation in all aspects of the sport.

This nationwide launch is a key component of the GFA Women’s Football Development Strategy, spearheaded by Jennifer Amankwaa Sarpong, the GFA Women’s Football Development Manager. The program reflects a strong commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots and building a sustainable future for women’s football in Ghana.