Morocco’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations visibility under scrutiny amid low attendances

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has struggled for visibility in Morocco, with little public awareness of the tournament and low attendances at matches unless the hosts are playing.

The buses used by the teams are not branded for the competition, but that is only one indication of how little prominence Wafcon has been given across the country.

A week after arriving in Morocco, the tournament has been difficult to detect in everyday life. In Rabat, where the travelling media initially stayed, and Casablanca, where they are now based, official Wafcon branding is largely absent from the streets.

Signage becomes visible only when approaching one of the stadiums hosting matches.

Morocco remains busy well into the evening. During the summer, the sun sets at about 21:00, and people often stay out late. Casablanca, in particular, is a vibrant and active city, appearing even busier than the capital, Rabat.

But despite that energy, the tournament itself appears to have passed many people by.

Conversations with residents in the streets suggested that most were unaware the continental championship was taking place. That lack of knowledge appears to be reflected in the poor crowd figures recorded at the tournament, with a notable exception when Morocco have been involved.

The contrast with the previous edition is particularly striking. In 2022, when Banyana Banyana defeated Morocco in the final to win the title, Wafcon branding was much more prominent on the streets. Public awareness of the event also appeared considerably higher.

At a recent news conference, Banyana Banyana defender Karabo Dhlamini said some local people believed the South African team had travelled to Morocco simply to play a friendly against the hosts.

That misunderstanding highlights the limited reach of the competition and the extent to which many people in the host country did not know a major African championship was being staged.

The tournament may also have lost some momentum after being moved from its original schedule in March and April. The postponement could have contributed to the event receiving less attention and reduced visibility once it eventually began.

The lack of promotion raises questions for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has introduced several significant initiatives aimed at improving the women’s game across the continent. While those efforts have been welcomed, more could perhaps have been done to market Wafcon and engage the public in Morocco.

South Africa’s own campaign has also affected the experience of following the tournament. Banyana Banyana made a poor start, struggled to impress and were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat by the hosts.

Morocco therefore advanced, while the defending champions’ campaign ended before the final stages.

Ndebele is in Morocco courtesy of Banyana Banyana sponsor, Sasol.