BURUNDI, BOTSWANA, NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA.
Our WAFCON Group preview continues, and today we take a look at each teams in Group C and their run to the tournament.
GROUP C FIXTURES
Monday , 4 JULY
Nigeria v South Africa
Burundi v Botswana
Thursday, 7 JULY
South Africa v Burundi
Botswana v Nigeria
Sunday, 9 JULY
South Africa v Botswana
Nigeria v Burundi
BURUNDI: The Swallows of Burundi will be making their first ever WAFCON appearance this year. They gained qualification after defeating Eritrea 6-0 on aggregate in the first round, and 11-1 aggregate win over Djibouti in the final round. They finished as runners-up in the just concluded CECAFA Women’s Championship.
FIFA RANKING: 169
POSITION IN AFRICA: 39
COACH: Gustave Niyonkuru
APPEARANCE: 1st
NICKNAME: The Swallows
MATCHES PLAYED SINCE FEBRUARY 2022 (COSAFA Women’s Championship)
Burundi 3-0 Djibouti
Rwanda 1-2 Burundi
Uganda 4-1 Burundi
Tanzania 1-2 Burundi
Uganda 3-1 Burundi
BOTSWANA: They qualified for this year’s WAFCON after defeating Angola 7-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualifiers, and scaled through on the away goal rule after a 3-3 draw against Zimbabwe. A first time appearance in the Women’s AFCON for the Mares, they will be looking to make it a memorable one.
FIFA RANKING: 152
POSITION IN AFRICA: 29
COACH: Gaolethoo Nkutlwisang
APPEARANCE: 1st
NICKNAME: The Mares
FRIENDLY MATCHES PLAYED SINCE FEBRUARY 2022
Zambia 1-0 Botswana
Zambia 1-1 Botswana
NIGERIA: The most successful side in the women’s AFCON history with 9 titles, the Super falcons qualified for this year’s tournament with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Rivals, Ghana in the first round, and defeated Cote D’Ivoire 3-0 on aggregate to book their tickets to Morocco. The defending Champions will be looking to add more trophies to their cabinet.
FIFA RANKING: 39
POSITION IN AFRICA: 1
COACH: Randy Waldrum
APPEARANCE: 12
NICKNAME: The Super Falcons
FRIENDLY MATCHES PLAYED SINCE FEBRUARY 2022
Canada 2-0 Nigeria
Canada 2-2 Nigeria
SOUTH AFRICA: The Banyana Banyana of South Africa qualified for this year’s WAFCON with a 12-0 aggregate win over Mozambique in the first round, and a 3-1 aggregate win over Algeria in the second round. Having finished as runners-up four times before, South Africa will be looking to lift the WAFCON title for the first time.
FIFA RANKING: 58
POSITION IN AFRICA: 3
COACH: Desiree Ellis
APPEARANCE: 12
NICKNAME: Banyana Banyana
FRIENDLY MATCHES PLAYED SINCE FEBRUARY 2022
Zambia 3-0 South Africa
Netherlands 5-1 South Africa