Give it to Africa

Women’s football is a relatively new phenomenon in many African countries.

Women are seen to be doing well in Europe, but in Africa, conversation mostly ends at club level. However, t

The ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup has certainly changed perception. If it hasn’t, it surely will.

South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria made it to the knockout stages. This accomplishment of the women’s teams send a powerful signal to the respective national federations, the Confederation of African Football and governments that the women’s game deserves more attention and investment.

No shade, but some of the women played better football then some of the men who we have seen play on that stage. Their technical and tactical astuteness was on point.

Now, the question is, how far do we want the women’s game to go?

We want to see the 2027 Women’s World Cup hosted in Africa.

South African Football Federation (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan announced in October last year the country’s intention to bid for the rights to host the World Cup, and rightfully so.

Since the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991, Asia, Europe and North America have hosted the tournament on more than one occasion, with Africa and South America still not having had a taste at staging the event.

So far, SAFA’s efforts have garnered the resounding endorsement of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa).

Cosafa consists of 14 African nations, which means 24% of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) 54 association members are already in South Africa’s corner.

Hopefully Namibia can also put their weight behind their neighbours because as it stands, they are up against a combined bid from Belgium, Germany and Netherlands, while Brazil have also thrown their hat in the ring. The USA and Mexico have said they too will join forces on a bid.

I believe it’s Africa’s time to shine. This is important because, when you look at world football, the first men’s World Cup was held in 1930. The first World Cup in Africa was 70 years later in South Africa.

As a result, the gap between European and South American football in relation to Africa and Asia is now impossible to close.

We don’t want that to happen for the women’s game. It is true that the women’s game does not garner or get the support in Africa like their European counterparts. This could be because of many reasons. One of them being stereotypes. Many people still believe that it’s a men’s game. Another reason is lack of investment in the women’s game.

The ongoing Fifa Women’s World Cup has displayed the quality some of the nation’s bring to the table. It has also shown that there is indeed support.

The quest now for Africa is to build on this. Of the global revenue generated for football in the men’s game alone, 80% goes to Europe. Now, if we sit back and do nothing, and the same pattern emerges in women’s football, we are going to struggle to close the gap between in women’s football as well.

African nations need to support South Africa’s bid to host the prestigious competition. South Africa has the infrastructure and have shown with the 2010 men’s World Cup that there is a fan base.

This will inspire, invigorate and strengthen football for women on the continent and close that gap, rather than allow the pattern to repeat itself. Imagine the number of young girls who will get the confidence to join the game.

If we want football to be truly global, then we must increase the competitiveness throughout the world, not just in Europe. We have seen with the nations which represented Africa at the Women’s World Cup that there are quality players and the number can grow in Africa.

The work is now up to sports leaders to just bring the competition to the people.

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