The qualifying draw for the Total Energies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was held on Wednesday 5th July. The tournament kicks off in Morocco next year, and will feature 12 teams. Including the Super Falcons and Black Queens, a total of 42 countries across Africa will feature in the qualifying rounds, as they battle for one of 11 available spots. Which teams will advance to the main tournament?
In this article, we'll cover the WAFCON qualifying schedule, and we'll update with the results at the end of each round.
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Nigeria's @NGSuper_Falcons will face Sao Tome & Principe in the 2024 Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Qualifiers.
first leg in Nigeria
return leg in Sao Tome— 🇳🇬Oyediji Oluwaseun B🇨🇲 (@Oyediji_Seun) July 6, 2023
WAFCON qualifying format
Although we mentioned that 42 teams will feature in the qualifying rounds of this tournament, it's fair to point out that two of those teams will not play in the first round. It may interest you to know that South Africa won the previous edition of the WAFCON competition, defeating Morocco in the final. Being the defending champions, Banyana Banyana will sit out the first qualifying round.
Usually, finalists from the previous competition get to skip the first qualifying round, while the host nation gets an automatic spot in the tournament. Interestingly, Morocco are the hosts, as well as the runners-up from the previous WAFCON event. Bearing that in mind, Morocco have secured a place in the main tournament, with third-placed Zambia taking their place as runners-up.
That said, 40 teams will play a two-legged tie, and the 20 victors will advance to the second qualifying round. South Africa and Zambia will join these teams in the second and final qualifying round. With 22 teams left in the draw, there will be 11 second round matches, and whoever wins will earn a place in the WAFCON tournament next year.
WAFCON qualifying schedule
WAFCON 2024 Qualifying draw@raffacarolina @DiarioFFeminino @rflalves @dnllopes0 @JoseRomanh93 @Karri_Kemyst @GolazodelGringo @CephasTendereza @Ambroz256 @Oyediji_Seun @AfricaUnitedFUT pic.twitter.com/o7CJor0eQm
— Wosoworld (@karlyboy71) July 6, 2023
At the time of writing, the Super Falcons are on a quest to win their first FIFA Women's World Cup title; they've been the most successful team in the history of this tournament, winning 11 of 14 previous WAFCON events. Nigeria's women's team will face São Tome in the first qualifying round.
Likewise, Ghana have an interesting two-legged tie ahead of them, as they take on Rwanda. Although the Black Queens have never won this event, they've reached the final on three occasions, losing all three to Nigeria.
It's Important to note that the first qualifying round will take place between 18th to 26th September, while the second round will be played between 27th November to 5th December. That said, this is the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying draw in full:
🇬ðŸ‡Black Queens Road to CAF WAFCON 2024 pic.twitter.com/8BCz9120CS
— Shaban Mohammed (@ShabanMo9) July 6, 2023
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Egypt vs South Sudan
- Central African Republic vs Mali
- Guinea vs Mauritius
- Nigeria vs São Tome
- Cape Verde vs Liberia
- Uganda vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Ethiopia
- Equatorial Guinea vs Libya
- DR Congo vs Benin
- Côte D'Ivoire vs Tanzania
- Djibouti vs Togo
- Rwanda vs Ghana
- Gambia vs Namibia
- Cameroon vs Kenya
- Gabon vs Botswana
- Tunisia vs Niger
- Guinea Bissau vs Congo
- Angola vs Sudan
- Eswatini vs Burkina Faso
It's worth mentioning that whoever wins the Angola vs Sudan match will face Zambia in the second qualifying round. Likewise, the victor of the Eswatini vs Burkina Faso game will go up against defending champions South Africa.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 months ago
