Super Falcons of Nigeria training in Ikenne, Ogun State – May 30, 2025. Image © Skyunit/Shutterstock
The 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was expected to be a landmark event—an opportunity to celebrate and elevate women’s football across the continent after the momentum gained from the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Instead, it has become a glaring reminder of the institutional neglect and gender bias that continues to plague African football.
From delayed scheduling and unpaid wages to opaque administration and sponsorship inequality, this year’s WAFCON showcased not growth, but the intentional sidelining of women’s football by governing bodies that should be fostering its progress.
Financial Disparity and Administrative Contradictions
Despite producing internationally recognized talents like Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, Malawi chose not to participate in the qualifiers, citing financial constraints. Ironically, funds were allocated to the men’s team—one with a history of underperformance and no international impact. The women’s team, featuring players who’ve achieved top scorer titles in elite leagues and earned global recognition, was left unsupported.
This isn’t merely about elite stars. By sidelining women’s national teams, federations are erasing the dreams of dozens of homegrown players, many of whom depend on these tournaments to gain international attention and professional contracts abroad.
Unpaid Coaches and Empty Promises
In Zambia, the national women’s team coach, Nora Häuptle, has reportedly not received payment since her appointment. While authorities claim the issue has been addressed, a hesitant response from Häuptle during a press interview raised serious concerns. Her hiring, following a coach facing misconduct allegations, appeared more like a PR maneuver than a genuine effort to rebuild integrity.
These inconsistencies illustrate a common pattern: optics are prioritized over accountability. Federations are willing to change faces to avoid scrutiny but rarely follow through with structural reform or proper compensation.
Protests, Boycotts, and Public Humiliation
Several teams arrived at WAFCON under clouds of dispute. The DR Congo squad threatened to boycott over unpaid bonuses, even as their government signed multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals with European clubs. Nigeria’s Super Falcons—ultimately the champions—faced a familiar issue: delayed payments stretching back years, with similar protests before previous editions and the World Cup.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana also refused to play friendly matches ahead of the tournament due to financial disagreements. Their federation’s president dismissed calls for equal treatment with dismissive, almost insulting commentary—despite his own legal controversies. The situation was only resolved when private donors intervened, revealing the failure of official mechanisms to protect players’ rights.
Structural Failures and Reputational Decline
Just days before WAFCON began, South Africa’s long-time sponsor Sasol ended its 16-year partnership with the national women’s team. The reason? Consistent mismanagement and breach of contractual obligations. This exit not only stripped the team of financial backing but also damaged a vital developmental pipeline for future players.
Meanwhile, even accomplished figures like Desiree Ellis—the national coach and former team captain—reportedly operate without formal contracts. Such practices reveal a system that systematically devalues the contributions of women in football, regardless of their proven competence.
Gender Bias Hidden Behind Financial Excuses
The funding gap between men’s and women’s football in Africa is not rooted in merit, but in longstanding patriarchal attitudes. While men’s teams are granted resources despite poor results, women’s teams are made to prove their worth repeatedly—even when outperforming their male counterparts.
Excuses around sponsorship scarcity mask decades of structural bias: bans, lack of investment, and restricted media visibility have crippled women’s football since the 20th century. These were not organic failures; they were designed disadvantages, and yet, women continue to bear the blame for a system stacked against them.
Poor Logistics and Exclusionary Leadership
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) only announced fixtures and locations five weeks before the tournament. This disorganization impacted media coverage, fan attendance, and corporate interest—undermining the tournament’s credibility. By contrast, the men’s AFCON had its logistics confirmed a year in advance.
Leadership remains overwhelmingly male. Out of 12 teams, only two had female head coaches. Disturbingly, one male coach at WAFCON had previously been removed from his post in Europe due to scandal. Yet, CAF still promotes the tournament with the faces of women it once excluded—some of whom were subjected to controversial gender testing protocols in the past.
Conclusion: When Governance Becomes the Opponent
WAFCON 2025 has laid bare a bitter truth: women’s football in Africa is not merely being ignored—it is being actively suppressed. Through institutional neglect, financial mismanagement, and patriarchal bias, CAF and several national federations have become obstacles rather than allies to the sport’s growth.
It is time to acknowledge that resilience alone cannot repair systemic injustice. Real progress demands accountability, investment, and inclusive leadership that values performance over gender. Until these changes occur, African women’s football will remain a powerful force constrained by the very institutions meant to uplift it.
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