Patrice Motsepe implores African teams to emulate Morocco at FIFA WWC

South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, and Zambia are the continent’s four representatives in the 32-team World Cup hosted in Australia and New Zealand.

The Moroccan men’s team made history when they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup in Qatar last year, and Motsepe has called on the four women’s national teams to emulate them Down Under.

"I'm so proud and we are confident that the good work that Morocco did and all of those nations who represented us in Qatar, Morocco made history and made us very proud. We are confident that the nations that are representing us in Australia and New Zealand, the FIFA Women's World Cup, the African nations will make us proud and we wish them all the best. We are behind them and we are very proud of them," Motsepe said.

The four nations are all pitted in tricky groups, but Motsepe believes they will do well in the tournament as the performances of women’s national teams on the continent have improved.

"We were last year in Morocco and we had more than 60 000 spectators to come and watch women's football. A lot of good work has been done. You can see the quality is improving and also what's very important is you can see that some of the best players in Europe are from Africa," Motsepe added.

"So, we are very optimistic and it also emphasises the investment we must continue to make in women's football, in the professional football on the continent, club football but also encourage more academies for women's football players."

Gender pay parity has increasingly become the main focus in women’s football and, as the continental body’s head, Motsepe says there’s no two ways about it – women in African football must be well paid.

"We've increased the price money for the club’s women's championship but also for the Women's AFCON. Our commitment is to continue increasing but it's also important to pay the women very well because we want them to make a future out of football," Motsepe explained.

"I'm very proud as well because FIFA, Gianni Infantino is also very committed and it's important to pay our women football players in the African continent, look after them and pay them well."