Can a second Wafcon victory bridge the support gap between Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana?

The impact of Bafana Bafana’s historic run to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages was immeasurable, uniting South Africa and earning the team a hero’s welcome upon their return. But as Banyana Banyana push to win another Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) title, a compelling question arises: what will it take for the national women’s team to command that same level of devotion?

Banyana secured their spot in the Wafcon quarter-finals following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso in their final Group B clash in Morocco.

Yet despite lifting the trophy in 2022, their triumph was met with nowhere near the scale of national fanfare that Bafana enjoyed years later. Unless Banyana go all the way and repeat as continental champions, major national celebrations seem unlikely.

This stark contrast reopens a persistent debate: why does women’s sport consistently lag behind the men’s game in commercial and public backing?

While it is easy to argue that women’s football deserves equal enthusiasm, the reality of the disparity often comes down to raw economics—specifically, participation rates and commercial revenue.

The Financial Disparity in South African Football: PSL vs. Hollywoodbets Super League

As the most popular sport in the country, football relies heavily on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as its primary financial engine.

The PSL generates upwards of R1 billion per season in total revenue. By contrast, the Hollywoodbets Super League operates on around R17 million annually—a figure dwarfed even further when considering that a single elite club roster, like Mamelodi Sundowns, is valued at nearly R760 million.

If Banyana Banyana manage to defend their Wafcon title, it will be another monumental triumph for South African sport. However, until the underlying financial ecosystem evolves, even back-to-back continental glory may do little to shift the status quo.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

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