Despite a wealth of footballing talent across Africa, representation in the Women's Super League remains strikingly limited, and the reasons behind this gap have little to do with the quality of players emerging from the continent.
Across the Atlantic, the National Women's Soccer League has taken a markedly different approach, investing heavily in African stars. Zambia international Racheal Kundananji became the most expensive signing in women's football history in 2024 when Bay FC paid £685,000 to bring her over from Madrid CFF. Her Zambian teammate Barbra Banda, now at Orlando Pride, was named the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year that same year.
The trend continues elsewhere in the NWSL. Cameroon's Monique Ngock, who was named player of the tournament at the recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), plays for Washington Spirit, a club that currently fields six African internationals. Malawi's Temwa Chawinga has been a standout for Kansas City Current, claiming both the league's Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player honors in her first two seasons in the United States.
In Europe, some African players have found homes at top clubs outside England. Temwa's sister, Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga, plays for Lyon and was instrumental in her nation's run to the Wafcon final, where they ultimately fell to Cameroon. Cameroon's Michaely Bihina, another key performer in that tournament, is on the books at Benfica. Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made history as the first African goalkeeper shortlisted for the Women's Ballon d'Or before joining Brighton last year, a move that culminated in an FA Cup final appearance against Manchester City.
One of the central obstacles preventing more African players from reaching the WSL is the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system, which sets strict eligibility criteria for foreign signings. Players must accumulate sufficient points across categories including international caps, Champions League appearances, and the standing of their previous clubs — a system that can disadvantage talent from less globally televised leagues.
Financial competition from the NWSL adds another layer of difficulty, with American clubs frequently outbidding WSL sides for top African prospects. Scouting resources, meanwhile, remain heavily concentrated in Europe, leaving talent identification on the African continent underdeveloped.
Coverage of the women's game in Africa compounds these issues. This year's Wafcon tournament was marred by broadcasting confusion after the Confederation of African Football named Channel 4 as its UK partner, yet no matches from the opening round were shown live due to an unfinalized agreement. The competition itself had already been postponed just 12 days before its scheduled start in Morocco, eventually being staged three months later than planned.
Switzerland captain Lia Walti, who joined Brighton this summer, believes visibility is crucial to growing the sport globally. "I think you have to bring the game to the people. You kind of have to force people to watch it. I felt that was how it maybe started in England," she told BBC Sport. She added that poor broadcast quality elsewhere undermines the viewing experience: "It's not shown at all, or if it's shown, from where they film the game [makes it look] really poor. It affects the way you watch a game."
Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress. Malawi's run to the Wafcon final secured their first-ever Women's World Cup qualification, joining champions Cameroon and semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco. Reflecting on the achievement, Tabitha Chawinga told the BBC World Service: "It's really the best. No-one gave Malawi a chance to be in the finals, no-one gave Cameroon a chance to be in the finals. But as you can see, we watched fantastic football."
Nnadozie, who paved the way for African goalkeepers in the WSL, remains optimistic about the future. "We have so many good players and they just need the opportunity to show what they can really do," she said. "Very soon, we will have more numbers from Africa. Trust me, there are so many good talents from Africa... Women's football is rising and Africa shouldn't be left behind."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.