Initially seen as a male participant sport women have long held leadership and support roles within football in Africa.
[2] Prior to the 1960s, women's role in sports revolved around support for their male players, both on the field and at home.
[2] Although in Nigeria women teams were playing during the 1940s with the matches being reported in the national newspaper Nigerian Spokesman.
[3] In Cape Town a high school team called the Mother City Girls was created and played against boys' clubs.
[4][clarification needed] During the 1960s in South Africa, women began to emerge as leaders in the sport, taking on leadership positions in fan clubs.
[5] In Africa, this was true with for many countries including Burundi and Madagascar with their senior national sides having yet to play a FIFA sanctioned match.