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Title: The Leopards ladies eliminated from the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Reflections on the future of women’s football in the DRC
Introduction :
As part of the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Leopards Dames women’s team of the Democratic Republic of Congo were eliminated in the second round after a zero-goal loss to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa. This elimination raises questions about the state of women’s football in the DRC and the measures to be taken to improve its competitiveness and development. This article aims to analyze the current situation and reflect on the actions to be put in place to ensure a promising future for Congolese women’s football.
A lack of preparation and support:
From the first leg, the Leopards ladies were disadvantaged by difficult preparation conditions. The boycott of training due to non-payment of bonuses showed a lack of support and consideration for the women’s team. This lack of preparation impacted their performance in the second leg, where they were overwhelmed by their South African opponents.
Investing in infrastructure and financial support:
One of the main challenges for the development of women’s football in the DRC is the lack of suitable infrastructure and financial support. For players to be able to train and develop properly, it is essential to invest in the construction of training grounds and training centers. Additionally, adequate financial support must be provided to women’s teams to enable them to participate in competitions and prepare effectively.
Promote the practice of football among young girls:
Another important measure for the development of women’s football in the DRC is the promotion of the practice among young girls. It is essential to create programs and initiatives to encourage young girls to play football from a young age. This can be done in partnership with local schools and communities, where girls’ clubs and teams can be set up to encourage participation in sport.
Strengthening technical and tactical skills:
For the Congolese women’s team to be competitive on the international scene, it is important to strengthen the technical and tactical skills of the players. This can be achieved through training provided by experienced and qualified coaches, as well as through exchanges with other top teams and players. Players must also have access to resources and learning tools to improve their level of play.
Raising awareness and promoting women’s football:
Finally, it is essential to raise awareness and promote women’s football in the DRC. This can be achieved through media campaigns, public events and active media participation in the coverage of women’s football. It is important to change perceptions and stereotypes associated with women’s football, by highlighting the exploits and successes of Congolese players.
Conclusion :
The elimination of the Leopards Ladies from the qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games highlights the challenges facing women’s football in the DRC. However, this elimination must also be a source of reflection and action to improve the situation. By investing in infrastructure, financially supporting women’s teams, promoting the practice of football among young girls, strengthening technical and tactical skills, and raising awareness and promoting women’s football, the DRC can offer a bright future to the Congolese women’s football.