In the Words of Fatime Kanté and Wanjiru Mbugua Karani: How Two Women Leaders Are Reshaping the Future of African Tennis

Despite growing participation across all levels of play, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across the world of sport. Achieving gender equality in this space requires structural reforms, inclusive policies, and greater visibility of women in decision-making positions. As part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)’s partnership with UN Women through the HeForShe Alliance, they are committed to advancing gender equality both on and off the court, including through efforts to expand playing opportunities for women and increase female representation in leadership, officiating and coaching. 

A major milestone for this agenda was reached at the African Tennis Confederation’s (CAT) 50th Elective General Assembly, held in Nairobi in October 2023. For the first time in CAT’s history, two women, Fatime Kanté and Wanjiru Mbugua Karani, were elected to the Executive Committee Board, aligning directly with the Advantage All’s objective to increase the presence of women in tennis governance.

Launched in 2018, Advantage All promotes gender equality by setting a target of at least 30 percent female board representation in regional associations. One of its key pillars is the Leadership Programme, which currently supports more than 100 women across various roles in the sport including officiating, coaching, and administration. Fatime Kanté (Seychelles) and Wanjiru Mbugua Karani (Kenya), both active in the programme since 2018, were among the women elected to leadership roles at the 2023 CAT AGM.

Their election followed key structural changes within CAT. In 2022, the AGM introduced a new Women’s Representative position on the board. Fatime Kanté, a former Advantage All Committee member, was elected to this role. Wanjiru Mbugua Karani, a current Committee member, was elected President of Zone 4. Her candidacy was made possible by a constitutional amendment that allowed non-National Association Presidents to contest elections for the Regional Association Board. At the time, WK was serving as General Secretary of Tennis Kenya.

Reflecting on this milestone, Fatime Kanté shared: 

“Through strength, resilience, and a shared vision, we as women have humbly carved the path towards success, shattering glass ceilings and proving that our voices belong at the forefront of leadership. As we take our seats on the CAT Executive Committee Board, we ignite the flames of change, inspiring generations to come. May our triumphs serve as a testament to the limitless potential that lies within every woman.”

Wanjiru Mbugua Karani added:

“The outcome of the AGM has brought a new dawn to African tennis. I am extremely excited to be the first female president of Zone 4 and my dedicated passion for the game means I am the right person for this job. Africa has so much potential, and I am eager to sit down with other countries to be able to find out what challenges they face and how we can help them. It was a great honour to have ITF President, Mr David Haggerty, at the AGM. His presence significantly lifted the profile of the conference. The lesson I would like to share with all women is ‘it can be done!’ Give those leadership positions a try. Remember what Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said, ‘if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough’.”

The impact of these elections has been significant. Between 2021 and 2023, the percentage of women on the CAT Board rose from 0% to 29%, marking real progress in advancing representation. Supporting this shift has been Salma Mouelhi Guizani of Tunisia, an ITF Board member and Chair of the Advantage All Committee, who has played a key role in connecting the ITF with African nations and strengthening regional engagement on gender equality.

Looking ahead, Advantage All will continue to support the development of women leaders through targeted initiatives such as the Men as Allies and Reward and Recognition programmes. Training, mentoring, and leadership development will remain central pillars of the strategy, and progress will continue to be measured through data and key performance indicators.

The election of Fatime Kanté and Wanjiru Mbugua Karani stands as a compelling example of how policy change, institutional backing, and international partnerships, such as that between the ITF and UN Women’s HeForShe, can drive real transformation. Their leadership signals a powerful shift toward a more inclusive future for tennis in Africa and beyond.

“During my three terms as ITF President and overseeing the introduction of the ITF ‘Advantage All’ Gender Equality Strategy, it has been positive to see how Fatime and Wanjii are working to shape tennis on the African continent and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Every leader needs a mentor and they had a pioneer, ITF Vice-President and Board Member Salma Mouelhi Guizani, who helped inspire them, along with support from the ITF Advantage All Programme. I know that they will continue to play this forward.” - David Haggerty, HeForShe Champion and President of the ITF