By Aderonke Ojo
President of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB), Bouchra Hajij, has been named the most influential woman in African sports for 2025, topping the “50 Most Influential African Women in Sport” awards list released this week.
She earning the top spot in recognition of her exceptional leadership and transformative impact on volleyball across the continent.
The Moroccan sports administrator was honoured for her exceptional leadership, strategic reforms, and tireless advocacy for women’s inclusion in sports governance across the continent.
The recognition reaffirms her reputation as a driving force behind the modernization of African volleyball and her relentless advocacy for women’s participation in sports governance.
Under Hajij’s leadership, the CAVB has witnessed sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening institutional governance, promoting transparency, and boosting the development of national volleyball programs.
Her administration has also placed strong emphasis on empowering women, launching initiatives to enhance the competitiveness and visibility of women’s teams, coaches, and referees.
Before becoming CAVB President, Hajij served as the head of the Royal Moroccan Volleyball Federation, where she was instrumental in the sport’s domestic revival.
Her elevation to the continental stage marked a historic milestone, making her one of the few African women to lead a major sports confederation.
The 2025 list also features other influential figures including Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee; Fatma Samoura, former FIFA Secretary-General; Claire Akamanzi, CEO of NBA Africa; and Faith Kipyegon, Kenya’s world record-holding middle-distance runner from Kenya.
Together, they represent a new generation of African women shaping the future of global sport through innovation, leadership, and excellence.
Her leadership, they say, continues to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of women striving to break barriers in sports management and governance.
This latest honor adds to Hajij’s distinguished career marked by her commitment to the empowerment of women,the professionalization of African sport structures, and the advancement of volleyball as a unifying force across the continent.
This international recognition reflects Bouchra Hajij’s career and achievements in sports leadership, and highlights the growing role of Moroccan and African women in the development of sport on the continental and global levels.
The 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports is a platform dedicated to honoring their contributions, amplifying their voices, and inspiring the next generation.
As we continue to push for equity, visibility, and leadership opportunities, we invite you to join us in celebrating the women changing the game for Africa and beyond!
The 2025 Africa’s 50 Most Influential Women in Sports awards , in Nairobi,Kenya.