![]() Senior players were unhappy that the friendly was being played at Tsakane Stadium, 31 miles southeast of Johannesburg, on a pitch made of clay and grass. South Africa - a country aiming to host the next World Cup in 2027 - had to field a 13-year-old girl in a key World Cup warm-up friendly against Botswana because of a player boycott. This is a wider issue than just these three teams - England are in a similar dispute with their FA - but the problems for the nations with less-established history on the world football stage are deeper. The players will receive at least $50,000 each from Fifa for reaching the last 16 at the World Cup, but nothing from the South Africa Football Association (SAFA). South African and Jamaican players are also unhappy at a lack of payment from their national associations. 'These women deserve backing' Thembi Kgatlana scored in stoppage time to secure South Africa's crucial victory over Italy There was even talk of Nigeria refusing to play their opening game against Canada in Australia, although they eventually relented. Those problems arose again at the World Cup, with the NFF refusing to pay bonuses after Fifa announced all players would receive around £15,760 for participation in the group stages of the tournament. At the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, they threatened to boycott their third-place play-off against Zambia after the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) withheld payments of around $10,000. Nigeria have long-running problems in this area. Some of the money came from Cedella Marley - daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley - who has been a major source of funding and outspoken support for the team.įinancial issues are also the source of off-field strife for Nigeria - specifically bonuses. Two online crowdfunders were set up to help the team - one of them by the mother of midfielder Havana Solaun. ![]() So concerned were the team, they began to seek independent funding while at their pre-tournament training camp in Amsterdam, to allow them to prepare professionally for the biggest matches of their lives. Another letter was sent in June this year from the team, expressing concerns over facilities and preparation. Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson, assistant coach for the Reggae Girlz's debut at the 2019 World Cup, stepped up in July 2022 shortly before the Concacaf W Championship - the North American equivalent of the European Championship, which also doubled as the World Cup qualifiers - after the players called for the resignation of predecessor Vin Blaine in a joint letter to the Jamaican Football Federation.ĭonaldson guided them through, but that was not the end of Jamaica's troubles. They have not only conquered great odds on the field they have had to battle them off the pitch too. There is a greater underlying theme tying these three national teams together, however. Sacked managers, poor facilities and missing bonuses Jamaica goalkeeper Becky Spencer did not concede once during the group stage Nigeria stunned hosts Australia with a comeback 3-2 victory, between battling out stalemates with Canada and the Republic of Ireland. Having drawn with France and then earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama, Jamaica secured qualification from Group F with a 0-0 draw against Brazil, who were eliminated. South Africa, having been denied a point against powerhouses Sweden through a late goal before losing a two-goal advantage to Argentina, stunned Italy 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner to seal second place in Group G and a meeting with 2019 finalists Netherlands. For South Africa as well, we don't often see the African countries doing that well and progressing into the deeper stages of the tournament." "Jamaica have not conceded a goal in this tournament. ![]() "It's not only that they have got out of their groups, but they've done it in style, they've done it showing they can play and compete with some of the best teams on the world stage. "This is amazing," Smith told BBC World Service. Go here for all the latest from the Fifa Women's World Cup.Never have so many African teams reached this stage of a women's or men's World Cup.Īnd they have all deserved it - whether through thrilling attacking football, astute defensive tactics, or late goals scored thanks to a never-give-in attitude. This includes Jamaica - the first Caribbean side to compete in Fifa World Cup knockouts since Cuba in 1938 - as well as South Africa and Nigeria, two of three African sides in the last 16. Of the 16 teams into the knockouts, six are ranked outside the top 20. Three of the top 10 sides in the current Fifa rankings - Germany, Canada and Brazil - have gone out in the group stage. On the pitch, this competition has been thrilling - producing some of the biggest upsets in women's football history. ![]()
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