Exploring the challenges of female high-performance football coaches in Africa

Female coaches remain significantly underrepresented in high-performance sports globally, a challenge particularly acute in Africa. This study examines the challenges of 10 female football coaches across Africa’s five zones, applying the Ecological Intersectional Model to explore how individual, interpersonal, organisational, and sociocultural factors shape their experiences. Semi structured interviews and deductive thematic analysis revealed key challenges. Organisational constraints included limited trust and support from administrators, inadequate funding, abrupt dismissals, and few female role models. Sociocultural challenges centred on imposter syndrome, entrenched masculinities, and public distrust. Individually, coaches faced resource scarcity and restricted professional development, while interpersonally, harassment and exclusion by male colleagues were common. This study highlights systemic barriers limiting female representation in high-performance coaching and provides actionable recommendations for policy and practice. Addressing these issues is crucial to fostering inclusivity and equity in African sports, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.