Will African women's football ever really take off?

Football teams from all over the continent are squaring up in Nigeria for the Women's African Cup of Nations tournament.

The Nigerian squad, the Super Falcons, is the favourite to win the trophy for the third time in a row.

The players haven't lost a game on the continent since 1991, although they can expect stiff competition from Ghana and South Africa.

The game for women on the continent is growing bigger all the time and organisers expect the stadia to be full of supporters during the matches.

Though new teams such as Angola, Ethiopia and Mali are joining the fray and making their debuts, the women's game is clearly very much less popular than the men's.

Is this always going to be the case or can women give their male counterparts a run for their money in future? Can female players ever be really good at the game or will they always be second best?

Thank you for your e-mails. This debate is now closed. A selection of your comments is published below.

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The Ethiopian football federation should have sent the women's team to Tanzania instead

Gosaye, Ethiopia

After watching the Ethiopian Men's Football team performance at CECAFA, I was very disappointed. The Ethiopian football federation should have sent the women's team to Tanzania instead. I've got respect for the women's team.
Gosaye, Ethiopia

What do we really look for in sport? We want the players to exhibit power, speed and fun. Yes women can really provide the fun but when I am serious about watching sport, I watch men's events where I can see power and speed. For that reason, women's soccer might fail to take off.
Mambo Ziso, USA

What a positive way to promote gender equality and unearth the African woman's hidden talents. All African governments should leave no stone unturned in the development of soccer on the continent, since the game is unquestionably a big way we can project the image of our women.
Phil Mennia, Ghana/ Derby, UK

The game has made its mark

Che Sunday, Cameroon

Women's soccer is already a success in Africa. With the magnitude of difficulties plaguing the continent and to have teams from countries like Ethiopia, making it to the final stages, it just goes to tell you the game has made its mark within the ranks of the female world. Of course, the standard of play is still lagging behind when compared to Europe, North America or Asia. But given time, it will catch up.
Che Sunday, Cameroon

Surely women's football is in the making and I am optimistic that it will mature and compete with the men's for the audience share, perhaps even winning the World Cup that has eluded the men for decades. Just watch them!!!
Sam Sakala, USA/Zambia

I believe women's football is matured now and I think Ghana will win the next women's World Cup.
Daniel, Ghana

I wish the women's game would grow like the men's but I doubt it will ever be as exciting.
Azeb, Eritrea

African women have really come a long way excelling in sports like athletics - more than the men in Africa. I won't be surprised if African women are first to win the World Cup, before their male counterparts.
Odiogo Chidi, Bradford, UK

There is nothing we Africans can't do

Abush, Canada

There is nothing we Africans can't do, regardless of our gender, and I think it's up to management to take care of the players. T he players are very enthusiastic and eager about football and every one of them are devoted for the outcome.
Abush, Canada

Regardless of one's sex, expressing one's physical and psychological strength in athletics is such a wonderful freedom and release. Many women who gain this strength and confidence will undoubtedly use it to break political and cultural boundaries. As a female rugby player, I can't wait to see African women's rugby- bring it on.
Anita Norris, Canada

How many African states have invested in their national women's game? It comes down to so-called traditional African values. I don't mean to disrespect any cultural system but I say women in Africa can develop their professional skills within the framework of our local cultural values and without threatening their integrity. I am an African male and I believe in my African traditional values; but let's not deny our women the right to play professional football.
Aboud Jumbe, Bangalore University, India

Women are exploring the benefits of soccer for their wellbeing

Akello Pangarasio, Uganda

Yes women can be good at anything so long as they are given resources and good will to excel. As the planet evolves, women are exploring the benefits of soccer for their wellbeing. Our brothers need to understand that together we can win after all.
Akello Pangarasio, Uganda

Women's football may not match that of the men but it will surely reach an appreciable height in Africa. All that is needed is a concerted effort from the ladies themselves through determination and from the respective countries by supporting them like they do for the men. If both play their parts properly, women's football will bring consolation to countries that could not win the men's tournament at global level.
Rev Paul Bala Samura, Sierra Leone/Lagos, Nigeria

African women's football as it stands is already a huge accomplishment, with greater chances for more popularity. This is the realistic perception; taking into consideration the sexist cultural obstacles. We should not measure the success of women's sports by how much it competes with men's games; but rather, by the rate of growth. For instance, here in the US, women's soccer is more popular than men's, just as men's basketball is more publicised than women's.
Igonikon Jack, USA

I believe that female football will definitely grow. However it cannot match male football for a long time to come since Africa is still largely male-oriented. I agree with Igonikon that we should not measure the success of female sports by how much it competes with male sports. As it is now female football in Africa is already a huge success.
Elochukwu Okafor, USA

No matter what happens now or later I am just happy that we have got rid of our taboos and sexism at least in this sport. I know we can do better if the will is there.
Cillaty Daboh, USA/Sierra Leone.

Women football teams need more attention and more money to be pumped in, in order to improve their status. I hope millions of spectators will tune to their TVs while shouting "Bravo our women."
Stephen Okot, Sudanese/Australia