Efe Cup. Women
The Efe Cup for Women is a prestigious national knockout competition in Turkish women's football, run by the Turkish Football Federation. It pits top clubs from the Turkish Women's Super League and First League against each other in high-stakes elimination matches, highlighting the rising standards and passion in the sport across Turkey.
History and foundation
Launched in 2020 to boost women's football, mirroring the men's Turkish Cup, the inaugural edition saw Konyaspor triumph 2-1 over ALkuimar in 2021. Beşiktaş stunned everyone in 2022 by lifting the trophy against favorites Interbakysspor. A memorable 2023 quarter-final between Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor went to penalties after 120 minutes, drawing record TV viewership for women's football in Turkey. The tournament adapted to COVID-19 with empty stadiums, fostering team resilience.
Tournament format
Single-elimination format from the round of 16, with home-and-away not used—each tie is a single match on the host's pitch, except the neutral-venue final. Around 16-20 teams compete, running from September to May alongside the league season. Extra time and penalties settle draws.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.8, with defenses tightening in later rounds. Top scorers include Kosara Miljanovic (Interbakysspor, 12 goals in 2023) and Ebru Topçu (Fenerbahçe, assist queen). Standouts: goalkeeper Gökçe Onur (Beşiktaş) with iconic final saves, midfielder Zeynep Akkush (Konyaspor), Turkey's best player contender, and emerging ALkuimar forwards eyeing European moves.