Women’s national soccer team, Banyana Banyana’s victory at the maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations event would go a long way to position South Africa as an attractive sports tourism destination, said Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu.

Banyana Banyana were crowned champions of the continent after they beat hosts Morocco 2-1 to win the title on July 23.

Sisulu said South Africa was internationally regarded as a favourite destination for sporting competitions, thanks to its track record as host nation dating back to 1995, when the Springboks won their post-apartheid debut Rugby World Cup.

This was closely followed by Bafana Bafana winning the Africa Cup of Nations a year later. These achievements were followed by South Africa’s historic hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event.

"We hope this significant victory by Banyana Banyana will also ignite much-needed support for SA women’s sport and place it on a par with other men's sporting codes. Banyana Banyana's success, which has enhanced our nation’s proud reputation as a world-class sporting destination will also help drive the sports tourism market significantly, a sector that is slowly recovering after it was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak," said Sisulu.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the thousands of fans and tourists when we host the Cape Town Seven Rugby Series in December. We cannot wait for the thousands of fans who will be gracing our shores when we host the Netball World Cup in 2023 in Cape Town,” she added.

Speaking on Women’s Day (August 9), President Cyril Ramaphosa said women were currently champions in South Africa – just like Banyana Banyana.

“Just as the pioneers of the Women’s March of 1956 were role-models, the young women, and girls of today have no shortage of role models.
 
“With the right support, they can become anything they want to be, from star soccer players to fighter pilots, judges, members of Parliament, businesswomen and entrepreneurs,” he said.