African teams prepare for start of 2023 Womens World Cup
Morocco, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa will be representing Africa at the 2023 FIFA World Cup which kicks off on Thursday July 20th. . The first match by an African team will be on Friday, July 21 st when Nigeria plays Canada in their first group match.
The four African representatives were all semi-finalists at the 2022 Women ‘s Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco last July.
Nigeria
The Super Falcons, who will be participating in their 9th World Cup are in Group B, with the host nation Australia. The Nigerians will play their first game in Melbourne against Canada, the reigning Olympic champions. Then they take on the host nation before finishing up with World Cup rookies the Republic of Ireland in the final group game. Nigeria are the only African team to have made it as far as a quarter-final, with a loss in extra time against Brazil back in 1999. Nigeria will be hoping to match and better that finish this year.
Zambia
Zambia will be making their first ever appearance at a Womens World Cup. The group draw placed Zambia in Group C and the She-polo polo will face the Japanese, champions in 2011. Next up will be Spain and Costa Rica to complete the group C matches for the World Cup rookies.
South Africa
Participating in their second ever Women’s World Cup, Desiree Ellis ‘ Banyana Banyana will have a battle against powerhouse Sweden in group G. The Swedes will be looking to avenge their 2019 WWC finals loss and swiftly get past the group stage. Italy and Argentina,will be up next, respectively, for South Africa as the Banyana Banyana finish up their group matches.
Morocco
The Atlas Lionesses are another African team making their first ever Women’s World Cup appearance. The Moroccans fell into group H with a seasoned Germany team. South Korea and Colombia will be the other two opponents for Morocco. Coach Reynald Pedros has experience coaching Olympique Lyon to the Women’s Champions League title in 2019 as well as in 2020 and will be counting on that experience to lead the Moroccans out of the group.
