What Morocco, Banyana, Nigeria Players Will Earn for Reaching Round of 16 at Women’s World Cup

• Thembi Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia starred as South Africa reached the World Cup round of 16
• Banyana Banyana now join Nigeria and Morocco as the other African team at the tourney's knockout stage
• Sports Brief takes a look at how much each player will earn following their World Cup fetes

Africa will, for the first time in history, have three teams in the round of 16 at the FIFA Women's World Cup after South Africa and Morocco defied odds to beat Italy and Colombia, respectively.

Banyana Banyana played out to an enthralling 3-2 win over the Azzurri at the Sky Stadium in Wellington to ensure they finish second behind Sweden in Group G. Morocco meanwhile beat Colombia to finish ahead of two-time world champions Germany in Group H.

They will now join Nigeria as the other African representatives as the tournament gets to its business end.

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The Super Falcons, on their end, held Olympic medalists Canada to a goalless draw, before beating co-hosts, Australia, and drawing with debutants, Ireland, to reach their third knockout stage.

Women's World Cup Prize money

Even as African nations continue to impress on the grand stage, issues of allowances and being remitted to players have been a big issue not only for the continent but for many teams in Australia and New Zealand.

The world governing body, FIFA, had earlier decided to pay the players directly before reneging on that directive and opting to pay the member federations. The federations would then pay the players.

However, addressing Super Falcons players in the dressing room, outgoing FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, disclosed another workaround to the plan.

She reiterated that the allowances will be paid to the federations, but the football governing body would 'ring-fence' the money to ensure it reaches the pockets of the players.

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"I know that things have been tough… We have to face the realities of Nigeria. It pains me a lot. It’s because of you [Super Falcons] that, for the first time, the prize money has been ring-fenced in the history of FIFA to ensure that it goes to you," Samoura said, per Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana.

In what would be a welcome development by the players, Sports Brief now looks at how much the players are entitled to as they prepare to face England (Nigeria) and the Netherlands (South Africa) in the next round.

What Nigeria, Banyana will earn

The 2023 bonanza received a boost with a prize kitty of $110 million. This is more than three times the amount that was on offer in France 2019 and six times more than the 2015 tournament in Canada.

Every player will get $30,000, with the amount increasing depending on the stage they reach. This means players from Zambia, Canada, Haiti and others who have already been eliminated will be that much richer.

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For reaching the round of 16, each player will get $60,000. Thembi Kgatlana and the rest of the South African squad will be in this pay group, as will Asisat Oshoala and the rest of the Nigerian players. Ghizlane Chebbak and her Morocco heroines are also in this pay group in their first time of asking.

Going by current exchange rates, $60,000 is approximately R1.1 million, N45.5 million and 593,000 Morocco Dirhams.

As August Man reports, the players of the winning team will get at least $270,000 each, with the losing finalists getting $195,000. The third-placed team will each get $180,000.

Nigeria play England on August 7, while South Africa take on the Netherlands on August 6. Morocco will play France on August 8.

Inside Banyana Banyana's party

Sports Brief has also reported on celebrations in the Banyana dressing room after the South Africans' historic win.

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Team member, Simonè Conley, shared a video of the scenes as the side celebrated advancing to the round of 16.

Banyana players and even the backroom staff could be seen dancing and singing as they soaked up every moment.