The strong African teams in women’s football are emerging as leading contenders for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26.
Nigeria, ranked first in Africa by FIFA, is touted as a favorite for the title. Following closely is South Africa, the defending champion, who claimed victory in the previous tournament against the Moroccan national team. Morocco itself is also considered a contender, holding the third spot in Africa and benefiting from being the tournament host.
Several other teams present potential surprises, notably Zambia and Ghana, which have shown significant progress and feature professional players competing in global leagues.
Nigerian women’s team, known as the “Super Falcons,” is recognized as a prime candidate for the title, having won the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations nine times according to CAF statistics. The team boasts experienced players with substantial continental and international backgrounds.
South Africa’s team, known as “Banyana Banyana,” is another strong contender, having reached the finals on four occasions (2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018). They will aim to defend their title, marking their first championship in this competition.
Zambia is emerging as a formidable force on the African football scene, having fiercely competed against other national teams and showcasing some of the best players worldwide.
Football analyst Rashid Bouzian noted that Nigeria’s impressive record in both continental and global competitions positions them as a top contender. He also emphasized that South Africa will fiercely defend its title.
Morocco’s Chances in the Tournament
Morocco’s path will not be easy, as the national team must contend with formidable opponents, including Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.
However, various indicators favor the Moroccan women’s team for success in the 2024 competition, especially after their historic advancement to the Round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup, where they defeated Germany, the bronze medalists at the recent Paris Olympics. They also finished as runners-up in the last Africa Women’s Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
Benefiting from home advantage, the Moroccan team is a strong title contender, buoyed by significant support from local fans.
Under the guidance of experienced Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, who recently led the Spanish national team to a World Cup title, Morocco holds the third position in the latest FIFA rankings. This places substantial responsibility on the team to perform well in the continental tournament.
Factors contributing to Morocco’s strong candidacy include the team’s cohesiveness, built over many years of competing together and supported by the infusion of promising young players.
Bouzian believes that as the tournament host, Morocco has favorable odds for winning the championship, emphasizing the importance of leveraging home field advantage.
The Moroccan team will kick off its campaign with a match against Zambia on Saturday, July 5, at 9:00 PM at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. They will then face the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 9 at 8:00 PM, concluding the group stage against Senegal on July 12 at 8:00 PM.
Group B includes teams from Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana, while Group C consists of South Africa, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.
The top two teams from each group, along with the best two third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals.
