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FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs: All eyes on Cameroon and Senegal as history beckons for Africa’s Lionesses (16.02.2023)
Evelyn Watta
The two African teams are among 10 countries from around the world who will compete in February´s play-offs for the three extra slots for the World Cup, to be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Cameroon and Senegal will contest the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs, each with the hope of securing qualification to the global football tournament in Australia and New Zealand this July.
The inter-continental play-off will take place 18-23 February, in Hamilton and Auckland in New Zealand.
It could be a historic moment for Africa if both teams win their respective matches, as the continent would have a record six teams in action.
The two nations missed out on automoatic qualification via.the Women´s Africa Cup of Nations, with Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia sealing those four berths.
Below, Olympics.com takes in the main talking points around Cameroon and Senegal ahead of the play-offs, including the tournament format, stars to watch, and more.
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Cameroon hoping to qualify for a third consecutive Women’s World cup
For Cameroon, qualifying for a third-consecutive World Cup was the goal when they set off for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WACON) in Morocco.
But a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Nigeria put a dent in that dream.
Their only hope was to beat Botswana in a play-off match to make the inter-continental play-offs, and they came through to seal a 1-0 win.
Despite their roller-coaster ride towards the FIFA Women´s World Cup play-offs, including failing to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semis for the first time in 22 years, the Indomitable Lionesses´ coach Gabriel Zabo is confident in their chances.
“We have not for once thought of not qualifying. All along we´ve been thinking about qualifying for our third consecutive Women´s World Cup," Zabo told CAFOnline.com.
Cameroon play Thailand on 18 February in the play-off semi-finals in Hamilton, and a victory will see them play against Group A top seed Portugal in the group final four days later.
"Going to more or less a knockout event, where the result determines whether you go to the next stage or not, we will build on the good aspects of defending and make sure that we defend very well and take our chances when they present themselves.”
Success is plausible for Senegal
This year’s tournament is Senegal’s best chance ever to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Lionesses of Teranga are looking to use the momentum of their male compatriots´ first ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021 and the 2022 African Nations Championship.
Senegal are coached by Mame Mousse Cissé and returned to the WAFCON after a 10-year absence.
Despite having never qualified for the Women’s World Cup, there is a strong belief that 2023 could be their year to make history.
“Overall there is a reason to be satisfied, even if there is also regret that we missed qualification to the semi-final against Zambia - a team we could have beaten,” the captain of the Senegalese team, Safietou Sagna said in an interview with cafonline.
Senegal lost to Zambia on penalties, but rebounded with victory over Tunisia to secure one of the two play-off slots.
“What pleases the most, the future belongs to us!” Sagna added, aware how their
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qualification could help women’s football gain traction in Senegal.
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History beckons for Africa
The expanded Women´s World Cup has resulted in more spaces for Africa, and 2023 will be the first time the continent will have more than three teams.
If Cameroon and Senegal progress, Africa will have a record six teams at the tournament.
Nigeria and South Africa, who were Africa’s representatives at France 2019, will be joined at the World Cup by debutants Morocco and Zambia.
In France, Cameroon and Nigeria reached the last 16, though the latter remain the continent’s most successful team at the World Cup, having reached the quarter-finals in 1999.
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The stars to watch
One of the players expected to star in New Zealand is Ajara Nchout, the goalscorer from Cameroon´s win over Botswana that saw them through to the inter-confederation play-offs.
The 30-year-old who made her interntional debut at the 2012 London Olympics, is currently considered one of the greats in African women’s football.
The Inter Milan forward was crucial for her team in their last two World Cups, and will look to capitalise on her latest chance to shine.
Other experienced figures Cameroon will count on include goal-getter Gabriele Aboudi Onguene of CSKA Moscow - who has represented Cameroon since 2008 - and U.S. based defender Estelle Johnson.
The Senegalese side is led by captain Safietou Sagna.
The France-based player was instrumental in her team’s qualification for the inter-confederation play-offs and is expected to play a leading role in New Zealand.
Other players to watch include Marseille pair Ndeye Awa Diakhate nicknamed Eva Neymar, and forward Mama Diop.
Also keep an eye on home-based duo of Haby Balde and Hapsatou Malado Diallo, whose contributions at the recent West African Football Union´s WAFU-A Women’s tournament in Cape Verde, were instrumental in ensuring Senegal becomes the first team to retain the regional title.
"What I did here, I am promising to do more at the Women´s World Cup play-off in New Zealand and, even want to do better," Diallo said after their 1-0 victory over the hosts in the final, where she finished as joint topscorer with nine goals, tying with compatriot Tenning Sene.
Teams for the Intercontinental play-off:
AFC (Asia): Chinese Taipei, Thailand
CAF (Africa): Cameroon, Senegal
Concacaf (North America): Haiti, Panama
Conmebol (South America): Chile, Paraguay
OFC (Oceania): Papua New Guinea
UEFA (Europe): Portugal
Format of play
The 10 teams from six confederations will play in three groups with one group comprising four teams.
Group A: Portugal, Cameroon, Thailand
Group B: Chile, Senegal, Haiti
Group C: Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Panama
Top seeds Portugal and Chile will face the winners between Cameroon versus Thailand and Senegal versus Haiti respectively. The winners of the two matches will face off in the group final.
In Group C, the two seeded teams will earn the top spots and will face off against the two unseeded teams.
The winners of each of the group will then qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
https://olympics.com/
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