The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off on Thursday, with the hopes of Mzansi resting on the shoulders of the African champions Banyana Banyana – here is how you can watch all their matches thanks to SuperSport’s ‘Here for Her’ campaign.
SuperSport has turned pink this year to celebrate the power of women in sport, and none better to showcase what women are capable of than Banyana Banyana at this year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup. All matches of the tournament will be shown live on SuperSport, and it will definitely be worth waking up in the early hours to follow the tournament on SuperSport Variety 4 (SS9) – the dedicated Here for Her channel.
The South African ladies have overcome adversities, stigmata and all odds to be crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Champions for the very first time last year. They will now test themselves against the best women’s teams in the world, entering this year’s Women’s World Cup as African champions. After crashing out in the group stages without a win in 2019, Banyana will feature in their second World Cup, facing Sweden, Argentina and Italy in their group.
Three-time African Women’s Coach of the Year, Desiree Ellis and her team kick off the tournament on Sunday morning 7 AM (SAST) against third-placed Sweden, before facing world number 28 Argentina next Friday, 28 July at 2 AM – you better set your alarms! Banyana’s final group match will be against world number 16 Italy on 2 August at 9 AM. All of Banyana’s games will be broadcast live on SS1, SS5 and SS9.
Thanks to the Here for Her campaign, SuperSport will be showing all 64 matches of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand live on your tv screens.
“I think it’s phenomenal and kudos to SuperSport, because we’ve literally said ‘we’re here for her’ and have gone all out to literally put all our money where our mouth is,” said SuperSport presenter Mpho Maboi – one of the female trailblazers in the industry.
“It is a great initiative because there is so much that has happened with regards to women’s sport this year alone. We’ve had the Cricket World Cup, now we’re going to have the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Nedball World Cup and we’re going to have a dedicated channel, saying that SuperSport sees us as women.
“Also, just to echo what FIFA president Gianni Infantino is saying, the only way that we can have women’s sport grow is when broadcasters, the media actually put their money where their mouth is and make it accessible to the girl on the street. I’m loving this initiative of the Here for Her channel. Big up to SuperSport.”
Africa’s eyes will not only be focused on Banyana, as African record champions Nigeria (Group B), and newbies Zambia (Group C) and Morocco (Group H) will also carry the hopes of the continent.
The Super Falcons are the first African team in action, when they will face Canada on Friday morning at 4:30 AM (SAST) – game on SS1, SS5 and SS9, while the Copper Queens face Japan on Saturday at 9 AM (SAST). Zambia, who finished third at the WAFCON, enter the tournament on the back of a sensational 3-2 win over two-time world champions Germany in their final friendly.
SuperSport will broadcast all matches live with highlights and key moments plus talking points immediately available on the SS app and website.
“I definitely think SuperSport has made a huge statement with this channel that is dedicated to the Women’s World Cup, both football and netball, especially because we’re not just rooting on our ladies teams but the broadcast teams that are going to be working on both tournaments are all-women group – behind the camera and in front of the camera are all going to be ladies,” Tshepang Modisane, who is part of SuperSport’s Super Picks team and better known as Twiggy, added.
“I think it’s very important because it’s highlighting the skills of our women. We often feel like we’re being outshone by men, especially in football, for example. So having that representation is so important for girls like me, who are still to make it in or have just made it into this kind of platform.”
PS. SuperSport will continue their Here for Her campaign by broadcasting all games of the 2023 Netball World Cup (28 July – 06 August 2023) with a production team comprised of 35 women in a variety of roles, including drivers, engineers, audio specialists, camera operators, vision controllers and riggers.
