The African Wave in the NWSL

SonOfGao aka Mohamed Barrie

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shwf shwf, all the chatter about the presence of African players in the NWSL and African Women's football. Pitch Side - The African Wave in the NWSL African players are hoisting goals, awards, and praise for their contributions to the league. Pitch Side is the place for all the developing news, fan interaction, in-depth analysis, and human stories.

Aug 11

“They Know They Can Play for Algeria and Compete” In Conversation with Ghoutia Karchouni about Algeria’s historic run and making the choice to play for Algeria as a diaspora kid.

Ghoutia Karchouni knows what it means to make history with Algeria. She was WAFCON qualifiers golden boot, the first Algerian player to play in the NWSL, joining the Boston Breakers in 2016, and she made her international decision before Algeria’s last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Now, as Algeria prepares for its first-ever WAFCON semifinal, and a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Karchouni is watching from a distance after injury ruled her out of the tournament.
Aug 10

Nigeria out of WAFCON, history for Algeria and Malawi 2026

The WAFCON 2026 quarterfinals have proven to be rich of storylines and historic moments. Ten time champions Nigeria are out of the tournament! Cameroon has finally beat the Super Falcons in an important game. Malawi, with the Chawinga sisters have done it, their fairytale story has reached its first big dream: making it to the world cup 2027, now they can send their nation into a hype mode by reaching the finals. This and more in this episode
Aug 3

Honoring Faten Ben Omar El Azizi and All the Latest WAFCON News

In this episode, we begin by remembering Faten Ben Omar El Azizi, the Tetouan player who tragically lost her life while attempting to swim to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers many people face in pursuit of a better future, and we take a moment to reflect on her life and the wider issues surrounding her passing. We then dive into all the latest WAFCON action, where the race for the knockout stages is heating up.
Jul 28

WAFCON Day 2: Twiga Stars shock Banyana Banyana, as Ivory Coast rolls up Burkina Faso

Day two of WAFCON has provided our very first upset as Tanzania beats South Africa 2=1. In the other group B game Ivory Coast took care of a young Burkina Faso, 4-1.
Jul 27

WAFCON Day 1: Morocco's party and Algeria's sinks Senegal Also in this episode, Nigerian players reported money stolen from their hotel rooms as Moroccan fans erupt in racist remarks.

WAFCON hosts Morocco kicked off their campaign in dominant fashion, thrashing Kenya, who are making their return to the tournament for the first time since WAFCON 2016. Morocco raced into a 3-0 lead before halftime. Sakina Diki opened the scoring before celebrating with a dance at the corner flag. Defender Maryame Atiq doubled the lead with a headed finish, and veteran striker Ibtissam Jraïdi took over from there. Jraïdi netted a brace to begin her WAFCON campaign as the Atlas Lionesses cruised to a commanding 4-0 victory. Earlier in the day, Algeria's Desert Foxes proved more clinical than Senegal, securing a 2-0 win thanks to goals from captain Marine Dafeur and Washington Spirit newcomer Mélissa Bethi. Morocco top Group A with three points and a +4 goal difference, while Algeria sit second with three points and a +2 goal difference.
Jul 24

The History of Women's Football in Africa

If you've ever wondered why Nigeria dominated the early Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), winning the first five tournaments and building a record 10 continental titles, or how countries like Morocco and South Africa have transformed women's football in recent years, this episode is for you. Welcome back to The African Wave in the NWSL. I'm Mohamed, and in this episode we take a journey through the history of women's football in Africa with Dr. Chuka Onwumechili, author of Women's Football in Africa..
11/21/2025

On why we dance and what African Players bring to the NWSL.

Tamerra Griffin from The Athletic joins me to discuss the African Wave in the regular season. Players like Gift Monday and Kouassi are adding the fun, swag, and baller factor to the league, currently having a blast, and hopefully to end the season with a trophy. Having adapted their game to the NWSL, but how do player get their style and players' identity from? Tamerra helps us understand how media can humanise players as the African Wave pushes the narrative to be more global. If you stick around long enough, she also drops some nuggets and exclusives!
11/07/2025

"Beyond Banda & Chawinga: The NWSL’s Search for Africa’s Next Talent," End of Season Recap with Inonge Kaloustian

In this episode, we dive into the highs and lows of the NWSL regular season through the lens of the African wave shaping the league. Are clubs, in their hunt for the next Banda, Chawinga, or Kundananji, misprofiling African players and unintentionally stalling careers? We unpack that question, along with the growing pressures African players face as family breadwinners — and what support the league should be offering for life beyond football. We also look closely at Barbra Banda’s injury and whether WAFCON, heavy travel, and scheduling demands may have contributed to it. Plus: standout performers from this season and the rising talents NWSL teams should have on their radar. This is part one of a two-part conversation. Next up: Tamerra Griffin — journalist for The Athletic covering the women’s game worldwide and host of the weekly Full Time podcast.

8 Episodes

shwf shwf, all the chatter about the presence of African players in the NWSL and African Women's football. Pitch Side - The African Wave in the NWSL African players are hoisting goals, awards, and praise for their contributions to the league. Pitch Side is the place for all the developing news, fan interaction, in-depth analysis, and human stories.

Creator

SonOfGao aka Mohamed Barrie
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

8
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© This podcast is created by Mohamed Barrie, 2025
Show Website

The African Wave in the NWSL