Women's football on the rise: Media spotlight boosts visibility for female athletes across Africa​

There has been a growth in women’s football in Africa in recent years as there is an increased amount of attention given to women’s football by the media as well as global bodies like FIFA. These days, African women’s teams can compete in international tournaments a lot more than in the past, and there is more funding going into local leagues as well. FIFA predicted that the Women’s World Cup will have a 300% increase in terms of prizes in 2019, and this change clearly represents the sport’s growth during this time period. There are hardly any resources or media coverage, but the sport keeps growing, and it shows a good opportunity for the young female players on the continent.

Decades of Growth: Women’s Football Gains Ground

Women’s football began to attract some attention in Africa and worldwide back in the 1990s after the very first FIFA Women’s Football World Cup in 1991. African teams like the Super Falcons of Nigeria were among the earliest competitors to emerge, and they quickly showed their potential by competing at high levels. Organized football for women’s populations has since then developed, with national leagues and regional leagues springing up around the African countries. Various countries have even applied to join FIFA since the organization reported 2023 a notable 24% increase in female participation in football between 2019 and 2023, deeming this steady growth.  FIFA's leadership acknowledges that of all the activities they are involved in, women's football has seen the greatest growth in recent years.

Breaking Barriers: How Media Brings Women’s Football to the Spotlight

YouTube and Instagram have been essential in assisting African female footballers to get recognition outside their local borders as they develop their brand and sports skills. The betting sphere also makes its contribution - the inclusion of women's sports in their offers; the largest bookmakers, such as MelBet, actively promote women's sports in many disciplines at once. Today, this company is one of the main popularizers of women's football on the continent, giving the opportunity to watch live matches and tournament results even without the need for Melbet betting site. Join today and dive into the world of sports!

FIFA Women’s World Cup and CAF Women’s Champions League are among the major events that are increasingly getting coverage and even pushing mainstream media to adapt. Nevertheless, women’s sports do not get more than 4 percent of coverage in the global sports media yet 40 percent of the sports persons are female. However, as the top players of football get the attention of the platforms, there still exist some disparities and this calls for improvement on equal access to media and resources in the sporting bodies.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup: A Global Stage for Women

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has emerged as an important platform in promoting women’s football, as it features the best players from across the globe. It is played once every four years and covers the best teams around the world. Looking at the last winners, that’s a variety & a spectrum:

• 2007 - Germany
• 2011 - Japan
• 2015 - USA
• 2019 - USA
• 2023 - Spain

The last tournament in the USA, for example, had about a 300 percent increase in prize funds, growing the total awards to around €135 million. This increase in prizes indicates FIFA's efforts to enhance the focus of this competition towards the women footballers globally.

CAF Women’s Champions League: Africa’s Own Platform

The CAF Women’s Champions League is an opportunity promoted through the establishment of the league in 2021 that allows African clubs to find their footing on a global stage. It takes place on an annual basis and is made up of the best clubs advancing from qualifying rounds through to finals, which has led to a leap in scope, funding, and exposure for teams who were previously limited in the debilitating regions. Here’s a look at recent winners:

Let us remind you that viewing the results of matches with detailed statistics, as well as recordings of video streams, are available on the site MelBet.

In the year 2022, CAF developed a prize scheme, according to which the winners received $400,000, the second prize winners received $250,000, and the third prize winners received $200,000. Such funding helps to radically support women’s clubs, which extends the growing reach of the league into the sporting domain of Africa and beyond.

The Stars of Africa: Role Models and Rising Talents

Women’s football in Africa has been blessed with the emergence of talented athletes who have shattered records both at home and on foreign soil. Currently playing for FC Barcelona, the Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala became the first African female player to score in the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and achieved international recognition. Ghana’s Elizabeth Addo played in several top leagues in the U.S., Sweden, and China, securing a good international profile. On the other hand, the versatile Ajara Nchout of Cameroon was in the limelight for spectacular goals in the 2019 World Cup. Such players serve as motivation for the younger generations by showing that Africa has competitive talent globally.

Still Uneven: Media Coverage and Pay Gaps

As a recent UNESCO analysis shows, women’s sports literally constitute only 4% of news coverage in the sports sector, and this speaks to the paradox of prominence that has been accorded to women’s football. A glaring social and economic imbalance is also evident, as the earnings of women internationally are many times lower than those of men. In response, FIFA has made its first significant reaction using the figures of a €135 million total prize pot for the Women’s World Cup scheduled for 2023, a 300 percent increase; however, this figure is still dwarfed by the €440 million offered for the men’s 2022 World Cup. FIFPRO reports indicate that during the 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, 29 percent of players did not earn any payment, while 66 percent of them had to take unpaid leave, all of it pointing to difficulties in financial circumstances.

Infrastructure and Investment Challenges

Due to poor infrastructure, many African teams are unable to access training facilities and equipment. Reports received by FIFPRO suggest that female athletes usually receive equipment passed down from their male counterparts and, therefore, lack uniformity. However, some countries, such as South Africa, are making strides in improving facilities, but such states remain few and far between across the continent. The Women’s Champions League has a prize fund aimed at attracting investment, where winners take home $400,000, yet most clubs do not have minimal requirements, such as transport and health care for sportspeople.

Tackling Gender Norms and Stereotypes

In Africa, especially in football, women face embedded gender roles that deter their growth in the sport. Cultural stereotypes in places prevent women from taking part in football since it is regarded as a sport for men, according to a research article in Sport in Society. Despite the challenges, local programs across countries such as Nigeria and Ghana are trying to promote inclusivity by introducing organized football for young girls at a tender age. It is such advocates of gender equality like Asisat Oshoala from Nigeria who actively inspire change, and thanks to her foundation, these barriers are being dismantled with the help of mentorships and skills-building workshops throughout Africa.

Beyond Football: Africa’s Women in Sport

It is true that football is a well-followed sport; however, African women perform in other disciplines as well, offering their skills to the world stage, particularly in the Olympic Games. Athletics is a strong backup in this regard, as the marathons and long-distance competitions are usually won by elite runners hailing from Kenya and Ethiopia. This can be easily verified by simply looking at the odds on MelBet.com. The D’Tigress team, Nigeria’s national team, has been reigning champions of AfroBasket for defeating the competition and becoming dominating in the sport. Netball is another sport that has a large following in the region of Southern Africa, with countries such as South Africa and Malawi always ranking highly in international tournaments. Thus, these sports allow African women to take their talents to an international arena, and this will aid in the growing hype of women's sports in the region, including football.

The Future is Bright: International Support and Local Initiatives

Women football athletes from Africa have also been catered for through increased funding and training opportunities courtesy of FIFA and CAF programs such as forming women's leagues. On the continent, it is evident that women's sports are now gaining traction and support from different governments, which are promoting the sport of football from the very basic to further advancing it professionally. There are also additional opportunities through collaborations with global teams as well as African-based organizations to advance the game further and allow more women to pursue careers in football. Such integrated strategies are laying the groundwork for the future of African women’s football to develop effectively.