A key obstacle for WSL clubs trying to recruit players from Africa is the league’s Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) rules. Overseas signings must reach a points threshold across five categories to qualify for a GBE visa, with factors such as national team caps, Women’s Champions League appearances, and the standing of previous clubs all contributing.
WSL teams also face stiff competition from the NWSL, where wages and transfer fees for top African talent can be more attractive. Scouting resources are another constraint, with many clubs still prioritising European markets.
Limited visibility of African domestic leagues, along with issues surrounding the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), compounds the problem. In this edition, CAF announced Channel 4 as the UK broadcast partner, yet no matches from the opening round were shown live because a formal deal hadn’t been finalised. The tournament itself was postponed just 12 days before its planned start in Morocco and eventually took place three months later.
Brighton’s summer signing and Switzerland captain Lia Wälti told BBC Sport that global coverage of the women’s game still lags behind. She said the sport needs to be brought to audiences proactively and noted that in many countries coverage is either absent or filmed in a way that fails to convey the speed and tactics, which undermines viewers’ enjoyment.