CAF launches research project on menstrual health and player well-being in African Women’s Football
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has launched its Menstrual Cycle Research in women’s football, marking an important step in advancing the health and well-being of female players.
Under the CAF Research Hub, the Menstrual Cycle Research Initiative focuses on girls and women participating in CAF competitions and development platforms, including the CAF African Schools Football Championship and the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The initiative seeks to better understand how menstruation may affect participation, confidence, attendance and the overall football experience, while identifying practical measures that can support players and be implemented by CAF Member Associations.
The study is currently being conducted across all six CAF Zonal Unions during the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers and will be conducted further during the Zonal phase of the CAF African School Football Championship 2026/27, providing a unique opportunity to gather context-specific insights from female players across the continent.
The research explores a range of topics related to menstrual health and its impact on women’s football which include:
Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual health knowledge
Communication and access to medical support
Hormonal Contraception
Influence of menstrual health on football performance
Availability and use of menstrual products within competitions
CAF’s role in supporting menstrual health across the women’s tournaments.
The findings will inform future CAF guidance, educational programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
“The Menstrual Cycle Research Initiative represents an important milestone in our efforts to better understand and support the specific health needs of female players across Africa,” said CAF Director of Member Associations Division Sarah Mukuna.
“This first-of-its-kind CAF research project on menstrual health reflects our ambitions to create an environment in which female players can thrive both on and off the pitch. The findings will provide valuable insights into the realities players face and help inform practical initiatives across the continent.”
This initiative supports CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe’s vision of increasing girls’ participation in football and strengthens player welfare from the grassroots level.
