2023 Women’s World Cup: Nigeria, S-Africa, Zambia, Morocco Ready To Make Africa Proud

• Tournament flags off Thursday, July 20 as Super Falcons battle Canadian opponents 

With the prestigious 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup officially set to flag off on Thursday, July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, Africa’s four representatives are honing their skills to confront the best teams globally.

Africa champions South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Zambia are carrying the continental hopes, with the last two teams making their debut at the global football carnival.

Interestingly, no African country has ever made it past the quarter-final stage of the Competition. The best ever showing came from Nigeria’s Super Falcons who advanced to the last eight in the 1999 edition.

Hopefully, Nigeria or any of the other three teams can do better this time around. Many pundits are banking on the Banyana, Atlas Lionesses and the Copper Queens to make their mark and leave a lasting impression at the showpiece.

NIGERIA
The Super Falcons are playing in the World Cup for the ninth time and they are the most experienced side from Africa.

In this edition, they have been put in Group B with Olympic champions Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

Their campaign starts against Canada on Friday, July 21 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium before tackling Australia six days later at the Brisbane Stadium.

The African heavyweights will then return to the same venue on July 31 to play the Republic of Ireland.

SOUTH AFRICA
Banyana Banyana are playing in the World Cup for just the second time and have been placed in Group G for this ninth edition of the championship.

The South Africans, who are attending the competition as African champions, will face the 2003 finalists Sweden in their first match at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday, July 23.

They will then make a trip to Dunedin Stadium to play Argentina four days later, before completing their group matches on August 2 at Wellington Stadium against Italy.

MOROCCO
The North Africans are making their debut in the competition having made it into the last four of the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lionesses lost to Banyana Banyana in the final.

In their maiden World Cup assignment, the North Africans have a tough assignment in Group H. They will first face two-time champions Germany on July 24 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Their second match will be at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide on July 30 against Korea Republic while their final assignment will be facing Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 3.

ZAMBIA
Zambia’s Copper Queens are featuring in a tricky Group C in their maiden World Cup appearance. They will have their first taste of the competition at the Waikato Stadium on July 22 before playing Spain four days later at Eden Park.

Zambia’s final assignment against Costa Rica will be at the Waikato Stadium on July 31.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Copper Queens are happy to have Barbra Banda back after the attacker missed out on the 2022 WAFCON. She will be the main player in Zambia’s attack.

Asisat Oshoala will be key for the Super Falcons’ hopes of performing well in the global event. Her experience against top European sides is a plus to the team.

2022 AWCON Champions South Africa are relieved to have their deadly attacker Thembi Kgatlana back. The experienced Kgatlana missed the latter stages of WAFCON owing to an injury.

The Atlas Lionesses have one Ghizlane Chebbak to rely on. The 32-year-old midfielder is their engine room. – With Goal.com reports