WAFCON 2022 tournament winners highlight gender pay gap in women’s sports

South Africa’s national women’s soccer team, Banyana Banyana has won their first African Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament. Winning a tournament of this nature is a major achievement for any sports team. However, Banyana Banyana’s win has highlighted the plight of women in the South African sports industry and the overall treatment of sportswomen throughout the world. 

According to EWN, “Previously, Safa offered Bafana Bafana R920,000 each in 2019 if they were to win the African Cup of Nations with the team ultimately receiving R520, 000 each for reaching the quarterfinals.” South Africa’s national men’s soccer team, Bafana Bafana has not performed nearly as well as Banyana Banyana over the past two decades, yet they are rewarded handsomely for their “almost wins”.

It was previously reported that after their WAFCON success, Banyana Banyana is being rewarded R 9.2 million from the tournament takings and an additional R 5.8 million from the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture under the leadership of Minister Nathi Mthethwa. While this is a welcome change from the department, cries for gender pay equity ring loud and aren’t waning. 

One thing is certain, however. Banyana Banyana’s win is more than a single moment in sports. Their triumph in the face of substandard pay and gender inequality is the plight of sportswomen around the world, making their win feel like more than just a triumph for South Africa, but one for women around the world.