In global conversations about gender equity and equality, Africa is too often viewed through a narrow, stereotypical lens—one that fails to reflect the real, transformative progress unfolding across the continent. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of sports leadership, where African women are not just participating—they are leading.
In 2024, the inaugural edition of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports Awards celebrated five remarkable Women Sports Ministers. Just a year later, that number has more than doubled, a clear indicator of Africa’s proactive stance in embracing change, empowering women, and redefining leadership across the sports ecosystem.
The increase from five to eleven women sports ministers is not just symbolic it is substantive. It signals the continent's commitment to inclusion at the highest levels of policy and decision-making in sports—a sector long dominated by men globally. From stadiums to boardrooms, African women are asserting influence, designing national strategies, advocating for athlete development, and dismantling systemic barriers.
Current Women Ministers of Sports in Africa:
Janet Kainembabazi Museveni – Minister of Education & Sports, Uganda
Lidi Bessi Kama – Minister of Sports, Togo
Wala’a Essam ElBoushi – Minister of Sports, Sudan
Khady Diène Gaye – Minister of Sports, Senegal
Indira Cabral Embaló – Minister of Sports, Guinea Bissau
Armande Longo Moulengui – Minister of Sports, Gabon
Shewit Shanka Shashigo – Minister of Sports, Ethiopia
Sanet Steenkamp – Minister of Sports, Namibia
Marie-Celine Zialor – Minister of Sports, Seychelles
Augusta James-Teima – Minister of Sports, Sierra Leone
Nelly Mukazayire – Minister of Sports, Rwanda
These women represent a powerful shift in Africa’s sports narrative. They bring diverse expertise from education, diplomacy, medicine, and grassroots activism—championing inclusive sports policies, pushing for gender parity in participation, and creating safe environments for young girls and women athletes to thrive. This progress is not accidental. It is the result of years of advocacy, institutional reforms, and the unwavering commitment of women leaders both within and outside the sports sector who have broken barriers and rewritten the rules.
The emergence of platforms such as the Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) and Women Sports Africa Network (WSAN) has further amplified these efforts—spotlighting excellence, building networks, and mentoring the next generation of women sports leaders. As we look toward the 2025 edition of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports Awards, now scheduled for November 7th and 8th, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, the significance of this moment cannot be overstated.
This landmark event will celebrate trailblazing women who are redefining what’s possible in African sports. Among the honorees will be Madam Fatma Samoura, former Secretary General of FIFA, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award—a tribute not just to her illustrious career, but to the countless women she continues to inspire across Africa and beyond.
The 2025 Awards celebration will feature: A high-level Summit on African Women in Global Sports Leadership Workshops on gender-based violence prevention, financial literacy, branding and mentorship A two-day Women in Sports Expo A Ministerial Roundtable and thought-leadership engagements All these are part of a broader vision to elevate, institutionalize, and amplify the power and presence of women in sports across the continent.
This is more than a celebration of milestones it is a call to action to sustain momentum, invest in girls’ sports development, and dismantle cultural and institutional barriers. Africa is not lagging in the fight for equality—it is leading. The future of sports in Africa is female—and that future is already here.
By Leslie Koroma. CEO Africa Sports Ventures Group
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