Windapo: It is time for Africa to host the Women's World Cup

Fifa Women's World Cup trophy

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No African country has hosted a Women's World Cup, but Nigeria-born Windapo, who captains the Confluence Queens, feels female footballers on the continent deserve more attention and recognition.

Windapo spoke to Goal from Malabo, where she is playing a part in the Nzalang Nacional's qualification campaigns for the Fifa U20 Women's World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics.

Goal: What do you make of the standard of women football in Africa?

TW: Women football in Africa is in an ugly state. It's not encouraging at all and it is neglected by Caf and Fifa. No sponsors, no recognition and countries in Africa lack quality and solid women leagues. Africa has got talented female footballers, Caf and Fifa should support and help develop the game. But I'm confident with the increasing rate of stars from the continent dominating big clubs in Europe, better days are here. Africa will be the best place to enjoy your football career.  It is a shame we don't even have age-grade competitions on the continent except for World Cup qualifying series and Africa Women Championship. 

Goal: Africa is yet to host any Women's World Cup event, do you think they should be considered?

TW: I sincerely feel the time is right for Africa to be considered for the next senior Women's World Cup. It is necessary because Africa is one of the continents that has produced talented female footballers and among top continents playing a great role in the development of the football in the men's category. The coming of the Women's World Cup to Africa would help develop women football and bring great awareness to the continent. Fifa should use their powerful office to open doors for women's football development in Africa as such an event will help plant and promote grassroots programmes for talented female footballers. Moreover, Fifa has their means of promoting football. Attention should be shifted to Africa this time. Africa with a great population of talents should not be neglected.

Goal: Which countries are you suggesting could be hosts for the Women's World Cup?

TW: We have great countries in Africa with quality stadia, facilities and peaceful atmosphere. I think South Africa, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon can host the Women's World Cup with the right support from Fifa and Caf. They already showed they can do it with the 2010 men's World Cup. Nigeria too can host not minding its current security challenges that should be overcome before 2023.

Goal: What is your message to Caf about the development of women football?

TW: For Caf, they should invest more in women football at the age-grade levels because Africa has bright prospects with the female than the male at the international level. Caf needs not focus their attention only on male football, but lalso on the females by organizing competitive youth competitions for the under 13, 17 and 20 too. The organizing of only African Women Championship with no age-grade competition is a major reason why the continent has not done well at the World Cup, even as the age-grade World Cups. With all these steps, I think women football in Africa will take a new shape and attract huge benefits.

Goal: Do you think legends and stars have a role to play in women football development?

TW: I'm equally using this medium to challenge our Africa legends and stars to take the development of women football seriously, so that our football administrators will take us serious. Our talents have brought the continent a lot of glory. I think it is high time we have a union that will fight for the welfare of female footballers. With this union, we can annually host a competition for female footballers to bring them together and help the young generation develop interest in becoming stars too. We female footballers in Africa must stand up for each other. We need to help ourselves in this by calling on Caf and Fifa to do more for us. We should be exemplary in terms of discipline on and off the pitch, self commitment and love for each other. Our women African legends too should stand as a body or organisation so as to challenge Caf and Fifa to give us the needed attention that will improve women football in Africa.