CAN 2022 women: which team can dethrone Nigeria?
Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala.
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Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 mins
The African Women's Cup of Nations (CAN 2022) takes place in Morocco from July 2 to 23.
The Nigerians, victorious in eleven out of thirteen editions and triple title holders, will be arch-favorites of this CAN 2022. Will a selection manage to put an end to the supremacy of the Super Falcons and their star striker Asisat Oshoala?
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From our special correspondent in Rabat,
In women's football, there is no doubt: there is one nation that outrageously dominates the continent and that is Nigeria.
The statistics bear witness to this: in thirteen editions
[1]
, the Nigerians have won eleven times and remain on three consecutive titles.
Only the Equatorial Guineans, champions at home in 2008 and 2012, have sometimes supplanted them.
In 2012, the Super Falcons finished fourth, their “worst” AFCON ranking.
In addition, since 1991, West Africans have won more than 50 of the approximately 60 matches played during this competition.
That is to say…
"
Nigerian women have a psychological ascendancy
," Haifa Guedri, former Tunisian international and consultant during
CAN 2022
(July 2-23) , told rfi.fr.
They are also favorites because all the players are of the same level.
This is the most important thing to maintain the same level throughout a course
.
Under these conditions, which team will be able to dethrone them in Morocco?
South Africa, a rising power in women's football in Africa, has a dream.
Four years ago, during the last final phase, the South Africans did not go far.
They lost on penalties (3-4 TAB, 0-0 after extra time) in the CAN 2018 final in Ghana.
Since then, the Banyana Banyana have made further progress, believes Thembi Kgatlana.
“
For a number of years, our team had no major players playing in the top women's leagues overseas and that gave Nigeria and other teams the advantage
. Atletico Madrid on the Confederation of African Football (
CAF
) website.
Today, things are starting to go well for our team
”.
TO (RE) READ ► Women's CAN 2022: six players to follow in Morocco
“Surprises during this edition, such as Tunisia and Morocco”
A reflection that Cameroonians can share, seven times on the podium in the African Cup, like South Africans and Ghanaians (not qualified for this CAN 2022).
Moreover, the Nigerian superstar Asisat Oshoala does not expect a formality in Morocco.
“
We do not underestimate any team
, assures the center forward of FC Barcelona.
Obviously, South Africa is a very strong team, very competitive as well.
But we have teams like Cameroon, Morocco and other big African teams to face.
» The queens of Africa will meet the Banyana Banyana from the first round of the tournament, on July 4 in Rabat, in group C. A final before the hour?
Haifa Guedri also sees South Africa and Cameroon as other favourites.
But the Tunisian adds: “
I think there will be a lot of surprises during this edition, like the teams from Tunisia and Morocco.
»
While waiting for the consecration in Rabat on July 23, the twelve competing teams will try above all to reach the semi-finals.
A place in the last four is indeed synonymous with a direct ticket for the next World Cup, scheduled for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
TO (RE)READ ► CAN 2022 women: calendar, rankings and results
[1] During the first two editions, in 1991 and 1995, the tournament was played in the form of two-way matches and essentially served as qualifiers for the World Cup.
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