MOROCCO, BURKINA FASO, SENEGAL, UGANDA

The 12th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) slated for 2-23 July in Morocco. Here we look at all you need to know about each team in Group A. Note: It is the 12th edition because the officially recognised first edition by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is 1998, hence information about 1991 and 1995 are not included.

GROUP A FIXTURES

SATURDAY, 2 JULY

Morocco v Burkina Faso

SUNDAY, 3 JULY

Senegal v Uganda

TUESDAY, 5 JULY

Burkina Faso v Senegal

Uganda v Morocco

FRIDAY, 8 JULY

Morocco v Senegal

Burkina Faso v Uganda

Morocco: They are the hosts of this year’s tournament hence they earned automatic qualification. Also known as the Atlas Lionesses, Morocco will be making their third appearance in the Women’s AFCON after 1998 and 2000. They will be looking to go past the group stage for the first time.

They are the reigning UNAF Women’s Tournament champions.

FIFA RANKING: 77

POSITION IN AFRICA: 8

COACH: Reynald Pedros

APPEARANCE: 3RD

BEST FINISH: Group stage (1998 & 2000)

NICKNAME: The Atlas Lionesses

MATCHES SINCE FEBRUARY 2022

Malta 0 – 1 Morocco

Morocco 4 – 0 Moldova (in Malta)

Morocco 6 – 1 Gambia

Morocco 2 – 0 Ghana

Morocco 7 – 0 Congo

Morocco 1 – 1 Zambia

Morocco 0 – 0 Côte d’Ivoire

BURKINA FASO: A first ever qualification to the Women’s AFCON for the Stallions. They defeated Benin and Guinea Bissau to qualify for their very first major competition in the team’s history.

FIFA RANKING: 138

POSITION IN AFRICA 23

COACH: Pascal Sawadogo

APPEARANCE: 1st (2022)

NICKNAME: The Stallions

MATCHES SINCE FEBRUARY 2022

SENEGAL: The highlight of the Teranga Lionesses’ qualification campaign was upsetting 2018 semi-finalists, Mali in the final round. They finished bottom of their group in their debut appearance in 2012 and will be looking to achieve a better outing this time. Senegal are the reigning WAFU A Women’s Tournament champions.

FIFA RANKING: 89

POSITION IN AFRICA: 11

COACH: Mame Moussa Cisse

APPEARANCE: 2ND

NICKNAME: The Teranga Lionesses

MATCHES SINCE FEBRUARY 2022

Cameroon 2 – 2 Senegal

Cameroon 1 – 0 Senegal

Senegal 3-0 Guinea Bissau

Tunisia 0-0 Senegal

UGANDA: After a 22-year absence from the tournament, Uganda qualified for the WAFCON following Kenya’s withdrawal in the final round of qualifying. They had beaten Ethiopia on penalties in the first round after a 2-2 aggregate draw. The newly crowned CECAFA Champions will be looking to go past the group stage this time.

FIFA RANKING: 156

POSITION IN AFRICA: 31

COACH: George Lutalo

APPEARANCE: 2ND

NICKNAME: Crested Cranes

MATCHES SINCE FEBRUARY 2022 (CECAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP IN UGANDA)

Group stage

Uganda 2 – 0 Rwanda

Djibouti 0 – 5 Uganda

Uganda 4 – 1 Burundi

Semi-final

Uganda 1 – 0 (AET) Ethiopia

Final

Uganda 3 – 1 Burundi

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Uganda 5-0 Zambia