Africa Women Qualifiers [AWC]

The She-Amavubi sealed her place after coming out unscathed in the second leg match of the first round of the qualifiers held yesterday at Machakos Kenyatta stadium in Kenya. 

Rwanda lost 2-1 to hosts Harambee Starlets of Kenya but went through on Caf’s away goal rule following their 1-0 win in the first leg a fortnight ago.

Jackie Ogal scored from a free kick in the 16th minute to send Kenya ahead but Rwanda scored the most important goal which put them through, at the half hour mark through Sophie Niyomugaba. 

Poor defending between Clementine Mukamana and Gloria Sifa Nibagwire gifted the hosts to score the winner through Neddy Atieno in the 41st minute.

After an eventful first half that saw Kenya carry a 2-1 lead, action resumed in the second half, with Kenya well in the know that they needed to add another goal at the very least and concede no other, to advance to the next round.

However, Rwanda was in charge with left winger Sophie Niyomugamba giving Kenyan defenders a torrid time in the early minutes of the second half.

Kenya was handed a massive advantage in the 73rd minute when centre referee Julie Bolankang from Botswana handed Marie Claire Uwamahoro a straight red card for what seemed like an exchange of words with the official.

The loss saw Rwanda march into the final round on away goal rule after a 2-2 goal aggregate. Rwanda face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the final round with the winner going through to the final tournament in Namibia.

Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia and Zambia also snatched qualification to the second round.

The Ivorians beat Mali 1-0 to complete a double over the latter whilst Zambia snatched a one-all draw against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.

‘Les Elephantes’, 4-0 winners in the first leg proved a mouthful for their Malian hosts in the encounter on Friday at the Modibo Keita Stadium in Bamako.

Ines Tia scored the only goal of the match on 60 minutes to send her side through to the final round 5-0 on aggregate. The West Africans are due to face reigning African champions, Equatorial Guinea in the next round.

In Dar es Salaam, a late equaliser from Susan Banda proved vital for the Shepopolo to oust the Twiga Stars. The Tanzanians shot up into the lead on 39 minutes through Aisha Rashid but their hopes went dead eight minutes from time when Banda’s thunderbolt from a free-kick found its way into the net.

Zambia will face the winner of Zimbabwe-Botswana at the final round of the qualification series for the ninth edition of the flagship women’s football championship on the continent.

Algeria settled for a barren draw with Morocco in Rabat and go through 2-0 on aggregate, whereas Tunisia and Egypt settled for a 2-2 draw in Bizerte, with the latter marching on 5-2 overall. The two teams will face-off at the final round with the winner going through to the final tournament.

Also through are Ghana’s Black Queens, who thumped their Burkinabe counterparts 3-0 in Accra. Striker Faiza Ibrahim scored on 22 minutes whilst Agnes Aduako netted in each half to ensure the Ghanaians advanced 6-0 on aggregate, with Ethiopia in sight at the next round.

Seven teams will emerge from the qualifiers to join hosts Namibia for the final tournament from 11-24 October, also a qualifier for the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada next year.