Nkata criticises gender imbalance in Malawi football governance

Social commentator Fatima Nkata has condemned the presence of misogyny within the administrative structures of Malawian football. Her comments follow the recent departure of Women’s Football Association (NWFA) president Adelaide Migogo from Morocco.

Nkata argued that the public debate regarding whether Migogo left Morocco by choice, via recall, or as part of a planned itinerary has distracted from deeper issues. She suggested that the controversy has instead highlighted the systemic inequalities present in how women's football is managed.

Nkata pointed to a significant disparity in gender representation between different levels of football administration. While the NWFA executive consists of six women and one man, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) shows a different trend. The FAM Executive Committee is composed of eight men and two women.

Furthermore, Nkata noted that all primary leadership roles within the FAM, including the positions of president and both vice-presidents, are held by men. She observed that the gender gap widens as individuals move higher up the administrative hierarchy.

This lack of female leadership is particularly notable given the recent performance of the Scorchers. Nkata stated that the women's national team has achieved better results than the men's team in recent years, which should trigger discussions regarding decision-making power and representation.

She maintained that placing women on the pitch does not constitute empowerment if they are not represented in senior governance. Nkata concluded her critique by jokingly declaring her candidacy for the FAM presidency, citing her experience in founding the Namasina Football League and the Ana A M’mudzi Junior League.