Thesis
Print media portrayal of male and female Nigerian footballers: a critical discourse analysis
University of Iowa
Master of Arts (MA), University of Iowa
Spring 2026
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study examines the print media portrayal of male and female Nigerian footballers through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of selected articles from Daily Trust newspaper published between January 2023 and June 2025. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of hegemonic masculinity and gendered nationalism, the study investigates how media narratives construct gendered meanings and shape representations of national identity in Nigerian football. Using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model, thirty purposively selected articles were analyzed, focusing on language use, narrative framing, and ideological implications.
The findings reveal that male footballers are consistently constructed as national heroes symbolizing strength, resilience, and collective pride, while female footballers are framed through gendered discourses emphasizing femininity, morality, and emotionality rather than athletic competence. The study further identifies recurring practices such as gender marking, infantilization, and conditional recognition, which position women’s football as secondary and reinforce patriarchal norms. The study concludes that media coverage is not neutral but functions ideologically to reproduce gender hierarchies and sustain a masculinized conception of national identity. It contributes to scholarship on gender and sports media in Nigeria and highlights the need for more inclusive and gender-sensitive reporting practices.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Print media portrayal of male and female Nigerian footballers: a critical discourse analysis
- Creators
- Uchenna Oluchi Eze
- Contributors
- Travis Vogan (Advisor)Thomas Oates (Committee Member)Brian Ekdale (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (MA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Journalism
- Date degree season
- Spring 2026
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- ix, 55 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2026 Uchenna Oluchi Eze
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/27/2026
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (page 45-53).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Football plays an important role in Nigeria’s cultural life and national identity. It is one of the most popular sports in the country and often serves as a source of national pride, especially during major international competitions. However, media coverage of football in Nigeria does not always represent male and female athletes equally.
This study examines how Nigerian print media portrays male and female footballers and how those portrayals shape public understanding of gender and national identity. The study focuses on articles published in Daily Trust, one of Nigeria’s widely read newspapers, between January 2023 and June 2025. This period was selected because it included major achievements by two prominent Nigerian football stars: Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala, who both won Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year awards in their respective categories. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, the study examined thirty selected describe male and female footballers.
The findings reveal significant differences in how male and female athletes are represented. Male footballers are often portrayed as national heroes who symbolize strength, resilience, leadership, and national pride. Their achievements are frequently linked to Nigeria’s success and global reputation. Female footballers, despite their strong performances and historic accomplishments, are often described in ways that emphasize their gender rather than athletic ability. They are frequently referred to as “girls,” “women’s team.” Or “female footballers,” while men are treated as the default representation of football. Coverage of women’s football also needs to focus on discipline, morality, and emotional behavior rather than skill and achievement.
These patterns show that media coverage is not neutral. The language used in sports reporting can reinforce broader social beliefs about gender roles and who is seen as a legitimate national representative. This study contributes to conversations about gender equality in sports media and highlights the need for more balanced and inclusive reporting practices in Nigeria. It argues that female athletes deserve the same level of recognition and respect as their male counterparts for their contributions to national pride and sporting excellence.
- Academic Unit
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9985177271202771
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