After the completion of the second round of games in the ongoing Women African Cup of Nations in Morocco, here’s a narrative of the journey so far.
Group A
Host nation, Morocco as well as Senegal, Zambia and South Africa have all booked their passage into the last eight of the competition following wins in their respective games in the second round.
Burkina Faso 0-1 Senegal
Korka Fall scored a late penalty to produce the only goal at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday evening to give Senegal the maximum three points and leave Burkina Faso on the brink of elimination.
Uganda 1-3 Morocco
Second half goals from Nasryne El Chad and Ghizlane Chebbak helped the host sealed a comfortable 3-1 win over Uganda, after Sumaya Komuntale’s first half goals canceled out Rosella Ayane’s opener.
Both Morocco and Senegal are now on six points each, with the host leading on superior goal difference. The group winner will be decided when both go head to head on Friday while Uganda battles Burkina Faso for third place.
Group B
Zambia 1-0 Tunisia
Zambia are through to the next round of the Women African Cup of Nations following their 1-0 win over Tunisia, who are also well placed for a place in the next round.
Avell Chitundu scored a late goal after Tunisia’s failure to react to a free-kick delivered into their area, with the forward needing just a touch to send it into the back of the net.
Togo 1-1 Cameroon
A goal apiece in the first half settles the score between Cameroon and Togo, the later who picked up their first ever Women African Cup of Nations point in the process.
Ali Apeafa Woedikou gave Togo the lead just before the half hour mark and eleven minutes later, Estelle Johnson replied for Cameroon as both side share the spoils.
Zambia are through to the last eight and two of the other three can still qualify for the next round depending on results in their respective games and elsewhere.
Group C
South Africa 3-1 Burundi
South Africa made easy work of 10 woman Burundi to seal progression into the last eight of the competition.
Thembi Kgatlana gave Bayana Bayana a 20th minute lead and Burundi repsonded through Aniella Uwimana right on the stroke of the half hour mark.
However, the scoreline will not be leveled for long as Amogelang Masego Motau restored South Africa’s lead two minutes later and it could have gotten even better had Jermaine Seoposenwe scored a penalty in the added time of the first half.
South Africa put the game to bed six minutes before the hour mark as Linda Motlhalo scorer her first goal of the competition this year as it finished 3-1 to the last edition’s beaten finalist.
Botswana 0-2 Nigeria
Nigeria Super Falcons finally produced their first win of the competition thanks to goals from Ifeoma Onumonu’s and Christy Ucheibe that helped seal a 2-0 win over Botswana.
The record winners are now second, behind already qualified first place South Africa, while they lead Botswana one goal difference.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
