The qualification of Kenya for the Africa Women Cup of
Nations billed for Cameroon in November makes it the first time ever that this
East African country qualifies for the female continental tournament. Nigeria also qualified to defend their
title in Cameroon.
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| The Lionesses of Cameroon; a possible threat to Nigeria's Continental dominance |
Equatorial Guinea, the only other team
to win the women's continental title, will also be at the finals in November.
Her participation also depends on the outcome of an investigation being carried
out by the Confederation of African Football.
South Africa and Zimbabwe both teams that have already qualified
for the Rio Olympics in August both also reached the continental finals. Ghana and Egypt also join Cameroon as hosts in the eight-team finals.
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| Super Falcons of Nigeria; top favorites of the 2016 rendezvous in Cameroon |
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Teams
that have already qualified for the 2016 African Women Cup of Nations include;
Cameroon (hosts), Zimbabwe, Equatorial
Guinea, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
Kenya reached the finals
by beating Algeria on the away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw over
two legs.
The sides drew 1-1 in Nairobi having drawn in Algiers 2-2 the previous week, and Kenya sailed
through having scored twice away from home. The result had seemed to be going
Algeria's way when the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes from Naima Bouheni just
after Kenya had a goal disallowed for an offside position. Kenya however leveled scores in the
second-leg tie at the 79th minute through Cherish Avilla to qualify for a
continental finals for the first time.
Reigning champions Nigeria
sailed through after beating Senegal 2-0 in the second leg of their
qualifier for a 3-1 win on aggregate. The Super Falcons missed a chance to take
the lead on the half-hour when Arsenal player Asisat Oshoala hit the bar with a
penalty kick.
However, six minutes later Rita
Chikwelu broke the deadlock and almost immediately after the break Osaremona Igbinovia
doubled the lead for Nigeria. Senegal's misery was compounded when their coach
was red carded at the 50th minute.
South Africa completed a 5-0
aggregate win over neighbours Botswana with a 3-0 victory on the return
leg. Banyana Banyana scored their first goal
in the 18th minute as Mamello Makhabane scored from the penalty spot.
Sanah Mollo and then a vicious shot
from Nompumelelo Nyandeni's made it 3-0 before half-time.
There was also a convincing 4-0 second
leg win for Ghana over visiting Tunisia to make it 6-1 overall. Samira Suleman and Portia Boakye both
scored before half-time. The rout was completed with goals from
Priscilla Adobea and a second from Suleman after the break.
Egypt booked their place by beating Ivory
Coast, going though on away goals.
Ivory Coast won the second leg of their
tie 2-1 in Abidjan to make the score 2-2 on aggregate. Rebecca Elloh and Tia Ines scored for
the Ivorians , who played at the World Cup in Canada last year, before
half-time to give the hosts an overall lead. But a goal in the 86th minute from
Nevein Gamal made the score 2-2 overall and Egypt progressed on the away goals
rule.
Zimbabwe was the first team
to qualify for the finals with a 4-2 overall win over Zambia. The second leg of the final round tie
finished 3-2 to visiting Zimbabwe after Zambia had twice came from behind. Kudakwashe Basopo, who scored the only
goal of the first leg in Harare, gave Zimbabwe the perfect start with an away
goal after just six minutes. Zambia drew level midway through the
first half through Noria Sosala but Samkelisiwe Zulu restored the lead for
Zimbabwe 10 minutes before the break. Misozi Zulu matched her namesake when
she scored from the penalty sport for Zambia to make it 2-2 but Zimbabwe's
Emmaculate Msipa scored a winner with just a minute left to play. It means Zimbabwe's women have two
major tournaments this year after they qualified for the Olympics
in Rio. It is the fourth time Zimbabwe has
qualified for the continental finals for women; their best showing was fourth
place in 2000.
Equatorial Guinea, the only nation apart
from Nigeria to have won the African title, booked their place in the finals
with a 2-1 win over Mali in Malabo. The result took them through 3-2 on
aggregate. However the Confederation of African Football say they are now
investigating whether Equatorial Guinea used any ineligible players in the
matches.
This follows their disqualification from the qualifiers
for the women's football tournament at the Olympics in 2020 after FIFA found
them guilty of using ineligible players in the qualifying ties for this year's
Games in Rio.
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