Gombe FA Chairman advocates for women’s football investment in Northern Nigeria

Yakubu Sarma, Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association (GSFA), has issued a rallying call to his counterparts in the northern region of Nigeria, urging them to prioritize the development of women’s football.

Sarma emphasized the need for proactive measures to unearth talented female players and establish women’s football clubs across northern states. Drawing inspiration from countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where women’s football clubs thrive, Sarma highlighted the potential for similar success in the northern region of Nigeria.

“We must pay more attention to female football in the north. There is immense talent waiting to be discovered in states like Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno,” Sarma stated, as reported by Daily Trust.

“In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, female football is thriving, so there’s no reason why we can’t replicate that success in the north. Let’s empower talented girls in the region and provide them with opportunities to excel in football. With the right support, the sky’s the limit for them.”

Sarma also outlined the initiatives undertaken by the Gombe FA to nurture women’s football talent, including the establishment of Jewel Queens, a women’s football team aiming to compete at the highest level in Nigeria.

“In Gombe, we’ve taken steps to develop women’s football, and we’re starting to see positive results. Our team, Jewel Queens, is currently playing at the local level, and we’re working towards their progression to the professional ranks,” Sarma explained.

“We are committed to realizing this vision, but we also call for support from stakeholders to help us achieve our goals and elevate women’s football in the region.”

Sarma’s impassioned plea underscores the importance of investing in women’s football as a means to harnessing talent and promoting gender equality in sports across Nigeria’s northern states.