The second qualifying round of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) finished this week, with 11 teams punching their ticket to the finals.
The tournament proper will take place 2–23 July in Morocco. As hosts, the Atlas Lionesses received an automatic berth. The 11 qualifying teams will join them and vie for one Africa’s four 2023 World Cup spots.
As in the first round, the second round qualifiers featured the sides playing home-and-home ties. The winner was determined by aggregate score. In the event of a tie after the two matches, the away goal rule was again applied.
Unfortunately, corruption reared its ugly head yet again in football, as Kenya became the latest victim. With Kenya’s governing football body, the FKF, rife with scandal, the decision was made to pull the team. This decision sent the Harambee Starlets home, and gave the Crested Cranes of Uganda a walk-over into the finals.
AWCON 2022 2nd round results
Burundi 11-1 Djibouti
Zambia 1-1 Namibia (Zambia goes through on away goals)
Guinea-Bussau 7-0 Burkina Faso
Senegal 1-1 Mali (Senegal goes through on PK’s)
Togo 4-2 Gabon
Botswana 3-3 Zimbabwe (Botswana goes through on away goals)
South Africa 3-1 Algeria
Tunisia 7-3 Equatorial Guinea
Cameroon 10-1 Gambia
Nigeria 3-0 Côte d’Ivoire
Uganda advances on walk-over with Kenya
A World Cup appearance on the line
The 12 squads are ready to fight for one of Africa’s four coveted World Cup spots.
Additionally, teams can also qualify by way of the inter-confederation playoffs. Ten teams from federations around the world will compete in the mini-tournament to determine the final three qualifying spots in the big show.
As defending and 11-time AWCON champions, Nigeria are one of the favorites. The Super Falcons have qualified for every World Cup since its inception.
Will they make it nine for nine? Or will there be new sides from Africa at the 2023 World Cup? Keep your eyes on Morocco in July in the AWCON finals to find out.
