Why are there so few African players in the WSL?
BBC Sport explores why there are so few African players in the Women's Super League.
The Women's Super League (WSL) currently features just four players from Africa - Chiamaka Nnadozie, Aisha Masaka, Rofiat Imuran, and Ines Belloumou. This lack of representation is not due to a dearth of talent on the continent, as evidenced by the high-profile moves of foreign players to the WSL, such as Alexia Putellas and Sam Kerr.
African clubs have also attracted significant interest from NWSL teams, with Zambia's Racheal Kundananji setting a record transfer fee in 2024. However, several factors hinder African players from joining WSL clubs. The Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) visa requirements, which consider caps earned, appearances in the Women's Champions League, and the ranking of former clubs, pose a challenge.
Additionally, the WSL must compete with the wages and transfer fees offered by NWSL clubs. Moreover, the domestic game in Africa receives little coverage, and the Women's African Nations Championship (Wafcon) faced a postponement just 12 days before its scheduled start, further complicating the pathway for African players to the WSL.
Despite these obstacles, African talent continues to make an impact, with players like Nnadozie, who was shortlisted for the Women's Ballon d'Or, and Malawi's Tabitha Chawinga, who helped her team reach the Wafcon final.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
