Banyana Banyana were crowned African champions. Image: @CyrilRamaphosa / Twitter
President Ramaphosa shares special message with Banyana
President Cyril Ramaphosa has showered praise on Banyana Banyana after their historic Women’s Afcon triumph.
Banyana Banyana were crowned African champions. Image: @CyrilRamaphosa / Twitter
Banyana Banyana were crowned the champions of Africa following their 2-1 win over Morocco in the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday night.
The women’s team have been widely celebrated for their historic success, and on Tuesday, they arrived at OR Tambo International airport to a rousing reception.
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Ecstatic soccer lovers, clad in a kaleidoscope of colours, provided a festive atmosphere as they welcomed the newly-crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions with music, dance and celebrations just days after winning the title.
The whirlwind celebrations continued for coach Desiree Ellis, her support staff and players on Wednesday as they were hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings.
Ramaphosa applauded the Champions and said they had made the nation proud.
“Today our hearts are filled with pride. They are bursting at the seams with a great deal of joy,” said Ramaphosa, as quoted by Sport24.
“You promised that you would bring the cup, and it is here, where it belongs. When you took to the pitch on Saturday night in Rabat, we as South Africans – 60 million of us – were with you in spirit. We watched you, like gladiators, go to war.
“The good news of your win was like rain falling on dry, hard ground. You have, through your victory, lifted the hearts of the nation.”
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In celebrating the team’s achievements, Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa also handed over a 5.8 million cheque to the Banyana squad on Tuesday, in addition to the R9.2 million bonus for lifting the African Cup of Nations.
“It is going to be a law in this country that Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana will be paid equally,” Mthethwa notably announced.
“We are making that decision as the government. It’s not only Banyana Banyana but all the women’s teams [to be paid equally], we are supporting them as government.”
This message was also supported by Ramaphosa.
“You deserve equal pay for equal work that you do,” Ramaphosa reiterated. “I’ve been told that you get paid 10 times less than your male counterparts, and that needs to come to an end.
“You should be given what you deserve. Danny Jordaan (SAFA president), we cannot continue supporting the notion that when Bafana Bafana play, they get much more than what Banyana Banyana gets. It must come to an end.
“We need to give added remuneration to these young women who have made our country so proud. We must eliminate the whole process of unequal pay out of our system. When men and women do equal work, the remuneration must be the same.
“It is unjust, and we cannot continue treating the women in our country in an unjust, unfair way.”
You can check out some of the scenes that greeted Banyana below:
The team had previously posted a notification welcoming supporters to come and show their support in “South African colours”.
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