WAFCON 2022: Group C preview - Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi & Botswana

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WAFCON 2022: Group C preview - Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi & Botswana

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/61981361

The 12th Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco on 2 July.

Africa's four qualifiers for next year's Women's World Cup will be decided at the tournament, which culminates with the final on Saturday, 23 July.

Here, BBC Sport Africa runs the rule over Group C, which includes defending champions Nigeria, South Africa as well as debutants Botswana and Burundi.

Fixtures
Monday, 4 July: Nigeria v South Africa, Burundi v Botswana

Thursday, 7 July: South Africa v Burundi, Botswana v Nigeria

Sunday, 10 July: South Africa v Botswana, Nigeria v Burundi (all group games in Rabat)

Nigeria
Nigeria celebrate after winning the 2018 WAFCON final shoot-out against South Africa
The Super Falcons have won the past three WAFCON titles
Appearance: 12th Best finish: Winners (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Coach: Randy Waldrum Captain: Onome Ebi
Fifa ranking: 39 Nickname: Super Falcons
There is really just one team to beat at WAFCON, and with the absence of Equatorial Guinea, the other only nation to have won the title, will Nigeria be on course for a record-extending tenth crown?

The Equatoguineans denied the West Africans in both 2008 and 2012, but the reigning champions, who won the first five WAFCONs, are now eyeing a fourth straight title.

Four-time - and reigning - African Women's Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala recently won Spain's Pichichi award after 20 league goals for Barcelona and will lead the way alongside veteran defender and captain Onome Ebi, now 38, while familiar names such as Francisca Ordega bolster the squad.

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But coach Randy Waldrum, in charge of Africa's top-ranked side since 2020, has 13 tournament debutants in his squad, with the free-scoring Uchenna Kanu, Poland-based Macleans Chinonyerem, Gotham's Ifeoma Onumonu and Atletico Madrid's Rasheedat Ajibade among those to watch.

The American tactician oversaw a 2-0 loss and 2-2 draw against reigning Olympic champions Canada in friendlies back in April.

The Nigerians ensured qualification by seeing off the teams ranked fourth and fifth in Africa, earning a nervy 2-1 aggregate win over Ghana - after overturning a first-ever qualifying loss in the first leg - before defeating Ivory Coast (3-0 agg).

South Africa
South Africa's defeat in the 2018 final was their fifth overall
South Africa's defeat in the 2018 final was their fourth overall
Appearance: 12th Best finish: Runners-up (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018)
Coach: Desiree Ellis Captain: Janine van Wyk
Fifa ranking: 58 Nickname: Banyana Banyana
Always the bridesmaids but never the bride, South Africa - who lost their fourth final last time out - are hoping their 12th appearance will finally deliver a hitherto-elusive continental crown.

Despite losing the Ghana 2018 final on penalties to Nigeria, Desiree Ellis, coach since 2018, will believe they can break their jinx after upsetting holders Nigeria at the 2021 Aisha Buhari Cup.

Captain Janine van Wyk will be a vital cog in Banyana Banyana's bid for back-to-back Women's World Cup spots, as will Atletico Madrid's Thembi Kgatlana - player and top scorer of the 2018 finals - and other overseas-based stars such as Jermaine Seoposenwe, Refiloe Jane and Linda Motlhalo among others.

The recent 5-1 loss to the Netherlands in a friendly game will see two-time continental Women's coach of the year Ellis bank on young stars like Bambanani Mbane and Melinda Kgadiete from Mamelodi Sundown's African Champions League-winning squad.

The seven-time COSAFA champions cruised past Mozambique before subduing 2018 participants Algeria 3-1 on aggregate to maintain their record of being at every WAFCON.

Burundi
Burundi
Burundi are the lowest-ranked team in Morocco
Appearance: Debutants Best finish: n/a
Coach: Gustave Niyonkuru Captain: Asha Jaffari
Fifa ranking: 169 Nickname: The Swallows
Burundi have proved the doubters wrong, braving all odds to achieve their maiden appearance at the continent's showpiece.

The East Africans made light of the fact they were attempting to qualify for the first time by beating Eritrea 6-0 on aggregate before thrashing Djibouti 11-1 to achieve their historic feat.

Yet the tournament's lowest-rated team - ranked 169 out of 181 Fifa-registered nations - now finds itself facing Africa's strongest sides in group rivals Nigeria and South Africa.

Coach Gustave Niyonkuru will be looking to Simba pair Asha Djafari and Joelle Bukuru, who play in Tanzania, as well as the overseas-based trio Falone Sumaili, Salha Nduwayo and Saffira Guinand to cause upsets.

The Swallows' rise is connected to the technical efforts of Niyonkuru, who has overseen player growth from the Under-20s to the senior level since 2019.

Botswana
Botswana celebrate a goal by Refilwe Tholakele
Refilwe Tholakele (left) is among the Botswana players who could light up the tournament
Appearance: Debutants Best finish: n/a
Coach: Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang Captain: Bonang Otlhagile
Fifa ranking: 152 Nickname: The Mares
Gearing up as first-timers, having qualified for the finals after six consecutive failures, Botswana are hoping to use women's football as a springboard to the World Cup.

They commenced their 2022 campaign by defeating Angola (7-1 agg) before impressively ushering out Zimbabwe on away goals, after a fine attacking display had seen them draw 3-3 over the two legs with their COSAFA rivals.

Taking to the field at WAFCON will be a triumph for coach Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang, who took over in 2008 and has had an evolving influence ever since.

After leading the Mares to a first COSAFA Women's Cup final in 2020, Nkutlwisang is eager to make an impression on her historic debut, despite being pitched against favourites Nigeria and South Africa.

The former Double Action captain will hinge her hopes on young midfielder Lesego Radiakanyo, who scored four goals during the qualifiers, US-based striker Thuto Ramafifi, nicknamed 'Queen of Goals', and Refilwe Tholakele, who contributed three goals in four matches.

WAFCON 2022 squads
WAFCON 2022 Group A preview
WAFCON 2022 Group B preview
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WAFCON 2022: Expanded finals return with World Cup places at stake

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/61994790


WAFCON 2022: Expanded finals return with World Cup places at stake
By Janine Anthony
Sports writer
Last updated on1 hour ago1 hour ago.
From the sectionSport Africa
Nigeria celebrate with the Women's Africa Cup of Nations trophy
Holders Nigeria are eying a record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations triumph
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) returns this month after a four-year absence, with what is arguably the continent's biggest women's sports event expanded to accommodate 12 teams.

Having showcased world-class talents from Nigeria's Mercy Akide-Udoh in the 1990s to South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana last time out, this year's tournament will also decide Africa's four Women's World Cup 2023 qualifiers.

It will be hosted on North African soil for the first time by Morocco, with the games played across three venues in Rabat and Casablanca from 2-23 July.

Nigeria lifted the trophy in the past three editions and have triumphed nine times in 11 previous WAFCONs, and the continent's highest-ranked side are still the team to beat.

Cameroon and South Africa are among their closest challengers, but with four countries making their debuts there could be surprises over the next three weeks.

In 2018, Thembi Kgatlana won Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot with five goals as Banyana Banyana were beaten on penalties in the final by Nigeria, and the Atletico Madrid player believes the game is progressing across Africa.

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"A couple of years ago we would have argued that it's just Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon making strides in women's football but to make it a 12-team tournament is amazing," the 26-year-old told BBC Sport Africa.

"We are showing more countries that they need to invest in women's football, so that we can even get to a higher level. The objective is to make sure that women's football grows."

Can anyone deny Nigeria?
Known for their measured control of games from the first blast of the whistle, Nigeria remain heavy favourites to win a record-extending 10th African title.

One of just four sides returning from the 2018 finals, coach Randy Waldrum's team will have to navigate a tricky Group C opener against arch-rivals South Africa before taking on debutants Botswana and Burundi.

The Super Falcons are boosted by a heavy blend of foreign-based internationals, including Barcelona's four-time African player of the year Asisat Oshoala, who topped this season's scoring charts in Spain, as well as fellow forward Macleans Chinonyerem, who led the way in Poland.

Hot on their heels are South Africa, who have reached the final four times but have lost twice apiece to both Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, the only other side to have ever lifted the trophy.

Known for their flair and quick passing, Banyana Banyana can draw inspiration from inaugural African Women's Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns and more established foreign-based professionals such as Caf women's player of 2018 Kgatlana and experienced captain Janine van Wyk.

Cameroon's forward Ajara Nchout (L) celebrates with Gabrielle Onguene after scoring her second goal during the France 2019 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Cameroon and New Zealand in 2019
Forwards Ajara Nchout and Gabrielle Onguene, named best player at the 2016 WAFCON, are set to be key for Cameroon
Cameroon complete the trio of favourites and, like Nigeria and South Africa, have competed in all the editions of the WAFCON since it began in 1998.

The Indomitable Lionesses hosted the 2016 tournament, narrowly losing to Nigeria in the final, and have slowly rebuilt after former captain Christine Manie and Gaelle Enganamouit retired.

The central Africans will have 19 players making their tournament debut, but the more experienced Inter Milan striker Ajara Njoya Nchout and CSKA Moscow star Gabrielle Onguene will look to lead the team to glory.

Meanwhile, the rise of Morocco has caught the eye, with the hosts making enviable strides over the past two years as part of a strategic four-year plan laid by the Moroccan Football Federation.

Key to this turnaround is French coach Reynald Pedros - a two-time European Women's Champions League winner with Lyon - who has hit the ground running since his appointment by the Atlas Lionesses in 2020.

Known for their flair and pace, the North Africans draw heavily on the nationally-dominant club AS FAR, with Ghizlane Chebbak and striker Sanaa Mssoudy among their key players.

World Cup spots at stake
Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa looks on during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group B match between South Africa and Germany
Thembi Kgatlana's South Africa featured at the 2019 Women's World Cup alongside Cameroon and Nigeria
A record 44 countries entered qualifiers to bid for a place in Morocco, with the added carrot of a potential ticket to the World Cup.

The four semi-finalists will all be assured of spots in Australia and New Zealand next year, with beaten quarter-finalists playing off for two spots in a 10-team intercontinental tournament which will decide the final three qualifiers.

South Africa's Kgatlana is pleased that the World Cup's expansion from 24 to 32 teams has resulted in more slots for Africa, but she is wary that every team at the Nations Cup will have added motivation as a result.

"It's important that when you go to this tournament, you do not underestimate anyone because everyone is looking for those four tickets to go to the World Cup," Kgatlana said.

"I think I'm most happiest because it was a struggle before, as we only used to have three tickets to the World Cup. Now there's one extra, which means it could be anyone."

The winners of the WAFCON will take home prize money of $200,000 while the four semi-finalists will be certain of $750,000 next year for appearing at the World Cup.

Other players to watch
Tunisia women's forward Mariem Houij
Mariem Houij (centre) scored six goals for Tunisia in qualifying
After the 2020 edition of WAFCON was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new generation have a chance to make a name for themselves on the continental stage.

Tunisia's Mariem Houij scored the joint-most goals during the African qualifiers as her six strikes ensured a third finals appearance for the Carthage Eagles after a 14-year absence.

Rukiya Bizimana of Burundi, who plays for Etoile du Matin, was just behind Houij after netting five goals for the Swallows.

Fresh from winning the recently concluded Cecafa Women's Championship, East Africa's regional cup competition, Uganda's Fazila Ikwaput emerged as the tournament's MVP.

Star player Barbra Banda had been expected to be key for Zambia, with the 22-year-old hitting global headlines at the Tokyo Olympics last year as she became the first player ever to score successive hat-tricks at the Games, but she was ruled out of the tournament on Friday for medical reasons.

WAFCON 2022 Group A preview
WAFCON 2022 Group B preview
WAFCON 2022 Group C preview
WAFCON 2022 squads
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Re: WAFCON 2022: Group C preview - Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi & Botswana

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Re: WAFCON 2022: Group C preview - Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi & Botswana

Post by EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA »

We’re winning this .
OCCUPY NFF!!
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Re: WAFCON 2022: Group C preview - Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi & Botswana

Post by jette1 »

EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: Mon Jul 04, 2022 5:57 am We’re winning this .
Are you playing
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