CAF Launches Continent-Wide Menstrual Health Research in Women’s Football

The Confederation of African Football has launched a continent-wide research initiative examining how menstrual health affects girls and women participating in African football, with the findings expected to inform future guidance, education and player-support programmes.

The CAF Menstrual Cycle Research Initiative is being conducted through the organisation’s Research Hub and covers female players participating in competitions and development platforms including the CAF Women’s Champions League and African Schools Football Championship.

CAF said the study is taking place across all six of its zonal unions during Women’s Champions League qualifiers and will continue during the zonal phase of the 2026/27 African Schools Football Championship.

Understanding barriers to participation

The research is examining menstrual health knowledge, communication and access to medical support, hormonal contraception, the availability of menstrual products during competitions and the potential influence of menstrual health on football participation and performance.

CAF is also investigating how menstruation may affect confidence, attendance and players’ overall football experience. The aim is to generate context-specific evidence that can support practical interventions by CAF and its member associations.

The initiative is significant because conditions affecting female athletes can influence participation and player welfare at both grassroots and elite levels, while access to appropriate medical information and support varies considerably across the continent.

Part of a wider player-welfare push

The research builds on CAF’s broader effort to strengthen sports medicine and women’s health in African football.

In 2025, CAF and FIFPro held player-focused workshops during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations covering women’s health, ACL injury risks, menstrual health, safeguarding and players’ rights.

CAF has also been expanding its wider medical framework, including pre-competition medical assessments, concussion management, cardiac screening, anti-doping education and heat-illness prevention. In an August 2026 overview of its sports medicine programme, the confederation said stronger medical systems at youth and women’s level could improve player welfare, reduce preventable injuries and support longer careers.

Research before recommendations

The current initiative remains a research project and CAF has not yet published findings on how menstrual health affects performance or participation among African players.

That distinction is important. Rather than assuming uniform effects, the study is intended to gather evidence from players across different African football environments before future guidance and programmes are developed.

CAF Director of Member Associations Sarah Mukuna described the initiative as an effort to better understand the specific health needs of female players and develop practical responses based on their experiences.

For African women’s football, the research could ultimately help federations treat menstrual health not as a peripheral issue, but as part of the wider infrastructure required to support participation, player welfare and the professionalisation of the women’s game.