Last November it was announced that South Africa’s national women’s football Team, the Banyana B
anyana, would be heading to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever in France from June to July 2019. South Africans celebrated the news, but some also pointed out that despite their successes, the female players were still being paid less than their male counterparts.
This is set to change, however, as for the first time ever South Africa’s women’s team and its men’s team, Bafana Bafana, will earn the same pay as they head to the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, respectively, media reported.
Preparations for the friendly against Norway hit high gear. The two countries meet on Sunday to prepare for the @FIFAWWC in France next month @Banyana_Banyana @SAFA_net @BafanaBafana #DareToShine #fifawwc #BanyanaBanyana pic.twitter.com/qsGZ7H9OhC
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) May 27, 2019
“This will go a long way towards closing the pay gap between the men and women footballers in this country and it is a happy day for South African football‚,” said SA Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordan last week according to the report.
The players will receive R320‚000 ($22,000) each if their teams make it to the Last 16 stage of the World Cup in France and the Afcon finals in Egypt, R520‚000 ($36,000) if they are to reach the quarter-finals‚ R670‚000 ($46,500) for the semi-finals and R920‚000 ($64,00) if they win their tournaments.
“It is truly amazing as you know that we have been fighting for equality in sport for a long time, to know that we are going to get the same incentives as Bafana is amazing,” team captain Janine van said.
The team whose first official match was held on 30 May 1993 against Swaziland was ranked 49th by FIFA in March. Banyana Banyana also qualified for Olympic football for the first time in 2012.
🇿🇦 here is your @Banyana_Banyana squad of 23 players as confirmed by @FIFAWorldCup for the 2019 @FIFAWWC in France next month, 7 June to 7 July. Congratulations to all and all the best vs Spain, China & Germany @SAFA_net @BafanaBafana #BanyanaBanyana #DareToShine #fifawwc pic.twitter.com/69VP2I9wEG
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) May 27, 2019
They also listed the 23 player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in France from 7th June to the 7th of July.