Women’s football gains ground in Egypt

Once sidelined in Egypt’s male-dominated football scene, women are finally stepping into the spotlight. In 2024, a historic milestone was reached when Egypt’s Women’s Premier League aired nationally for the first time — a major leap for visibility and recognition.

For decades, societal pressures stifled progress. Families discouraged girls from playing, fearing it would harm their reputations. Since its 1998 launch, the women’s league struggled with limited support and participation, hosting just 11 teams as recently as 2021.

But momentum is growing. According to Al Jazeera, five new clubs have joined the league, and youth teams for girls under 13 and 15 have emerged. Major clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek have also formed women’s teams. ON Sports now broadcasts key matches, complete with post-game analysis — a sign of growing legitimacy and public interest.

Much of this progress is credited to Sahar el-Hawary, who pushed for FIFA to deny professional licenses to clubs that didn’t support women’s teams. Still, disparities remain.

“Resources are dramatically lower for women,” said national coach Abdel Fattah Abbas, citing poor funding for training, salaries, equipment, and travel.

Initiatives like “1,000 Girls, 1,000 Dreams” and KNVB’s WorldCoaches are helping bridge the gap. Aya Abdel Hady, a coach from Upper Egypt, notes, “Perception is shifting, but the growth is fragile without long-term investment.”

Players and coaches alike remain hopeful.

“These televised matches show girls what’s possible,” said coach Yasmin Yasser, who once paid out of pocket for team expenses. “We keep pushing — there’s no limit to what we can do.”