The FIFA Elite Mentorship Programme participants
Four African coaches are participating in the latest edition of the FIFA Elite Performance Coach Mentorship Programme, an 18-month initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of female coaches.
The programme, currently underway in Zurich, Switzerland, pairs emerging coaches with experienced mentors as part of FIFA’s Technical Capacity-Building Programme.
The initiative seeks to increase the presence and retention of women in top-level coaching roles by offering structured guidance and development opportunities. Each mentee is paired with a seasoned mentor who provides support and expertise throughout the programme, which includes online sessions and face-to-face meetings across multiple locations.
South African coaching stalwarts Desiree Ellis, head coach of Banyana Banyana, and Shilene Booysen, who manages Egyptian side Wadi Degla, have been selected as mentors. Ellis famously led South Africa to their first continental title in 2022 and a semi-final berth at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, while Booysen boasts a diverse coaching career across South Africa, South Sudan, and beyond.
Representing the mentees are Mildred Omari Cheche, head coach of Kenya’s U-17 women’s team that featured at last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, and Selamawit Kebede, head coach of the Liberia women’s national team. Also participating is Chris Yip-Au, coach of Seychelles’ women’s national team.
Speaking at the launch, FIFA Chief Football Officer and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach, Jill Ellis, emphasised FIFA’s commitment to breaking barriers for female coaches.
“At FIFA, our job is to mitigate some of those barriers, whether it’s financial issues with coaching licences, lack of awareness, or limited support. We need to minimise obstacles so more women can thrive in coaching,” Ellis said.
Launched in 2021, the FIFA Elite Performance Coach Mentorship Programme connects high-performance coaches in the elite women’s game, fostering knowledge-sharing and long-term growth as part of FIFA’s broader strategy to accelerate the development of women’s football.