SportsContinental Rivalries Resume As 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers Begin

Continental Rivalries Resume As 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers Begin

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October 19, (THEWILL) -The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Africa are shaping up to be unlike any other. For a long time, Nigeria and Ghana were the undisputed African queens, but, as with women’s football in other parts of the world, the continent is changing rapidly.

Equatorial Guinea became the first African country to qualify for the World Cup in Germany in 2011, followed by Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire four years later, and then South Africa in 2019.

The newly-enhanced 32-nation roster for Australia & New Zealand 2023 promises to be a hotly contested jousting ground for the four automatic tickets – one more than the previous Women’s World Cup.

The first qualifying round, which will take place mostly on Wednesday, will feature forty-four countries. The return leg will cut the list of 2023 contenders in half over the next week, with the format leaving little room for error.

Morocco, the continental tournament hosts next year, is also in the field, bringing the total number of countries competing to 45.

In the qualifiers for the continental showpiece, the first round of fixtures will feature 22 home and away matches between October 20-26. At a date to be announced Round two will commence with 11 home and away matches as well. Those who make it through will qualify for the CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco between July 2-23 next year.

The top four teams at the end of the AWCON will qualify for Australia & New Zealand 2023 with two further nations to participate in the intercontinental play-off tournament.

In what is without a doubt the highlight of Round 1, Nigeria and Ghana were unluckily paired together in the regionalised draw. With 11 Women’s World Cup appearances between them, the duo are Africa’s most successful nations, but only one will be left standing when the second leg takes place in Accra on Sunday.

Nigeria, led by veteran American coach Randy Waldrum, will have all of their star attacking personnel available after a relatively busy 2021, led by Barcelona-based record-breaking dynamo and team captain Asisat Oshoala.

Cameroon, on the other hand, captured the attention of the world with an impressive performance at Canada 2015. Les Lionnes Indomptables pushed world champions Japan all the way to the final before securing knockout stage qualification with a stunning and well-deserved victory over Switzerland.

Despite the absence of star forward Gaelle Enganamouit, they will be optimistic ahead of a match against Central African Republic, followed by a Round two tie against the winner of Sierra Leone versus Gambia.

For the new names in contention, South Africa overcame a heartbreaking narrow defeat in Canada 2015 to reach football’s pinnacle for the first time four years later. Banyana Banyana looked at home in France 2019, but 2021 has been a mixed bag, with a notable victory over Nigeria in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Cup Competition followed by a rare loss at the COSAFA Championship.

Few expected Zambia to have a significant impact at the recent Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, but the Copper Queens gave Brazil a run for their money and were unlucky to only draw with China PR. Barbra Banda, a powerful striker, established herself as a true new global star with her six goals, which came after she won the Chinese league’s top scorer award.

Zambia, on the other hand, will face a tough opening test in the form of Malawi, who recently defeated South Africa.

Tanzania has little history – their only appearance in the Africa Women Cup of Nations was in 2011 – but the Twiga Stars appear to be a dark horse based on recent form. The East Africans, who were invited to the COSAFA Championship as guests, beat Zambia in the semi-final before winning the title and ending South Africa’s long reign.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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