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African sides South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Zambia learned their 2023 FIFA World Cup fate on Saturday when the draw for the finals was conducted in Auckland/Tamaki Makaura.
The pair of Cameroon and Senegal will have to go through a round robin inter-continental playoff where their top finishers progress to the World Cup.
The tournament will take place from 20 July to 20 August with the opening game being a clash between co-hosts New Zealand and 1995 world champions Norway at Eden Park, while co-hosts Australia, will kick off against debutants Republic of Ireland.
BANYANA DREAM
African champions Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group G with Italy, Argentina, and Sweden. Banyana will look to improve on their dismal showing in their debut World Cup in 2019 where they finished bottom of Group B with zero points and a single goal against heavyweights Germany, Spain, and China.
Desiree Ellis’ charges will open their tournament next year against Sweden, who have participated in eight World Cups, finishing with bronze medals in three tournaments in 1991, 2011, and 2019.
Italy have been to four World Cups, with their best showing coming in the 1991 and 2019 tournaments where they reached quarterfinals on both occasions. Banyana will face the Le Azzurre in the last Group G match on August 2.
Argentina will make their fourth appearance at the World Cup, in which they have crashed out in the group stages on all three previous occasions. La Albiceleste will look to recall their 2005-2007 form in which they went on a 14-match unbeaten run, which included the 2006 South American Cup, where they beat Brazil in the final 2–0 to become champions.
FIXTURES
23 July 2023
Sweden v South Africa
28 July 2023
Argentina v South Africa
02 August 2023
South Africa v Italy
TRICKY DRAW FOR SHEPOLOPO
Cosafa champions Zambia are in Group C alongside Spain, Costa Rica, and former champions Japan. Zambian women’ football has been growing and improving steadily, starting with them securing 2020 Olympics Games ticket and securing a bronze medal in the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations
At Tokyo 2020, Babra Banda was the tournament’s surprise star, becoming the first-ever player to score back-to-back hat-tricks at a single Olympic Games. The first treble was in Zambia’s 10-3 loss to the Netherlands followed by another in the 4-4 draw against China PR.
Shepolopolo will make their World Cup debut with their opening match against Nadeshiko Japan who defeated the United States in the 2011 Fifa Women’s World Cup and followed that up with a silver medal finish at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Spain have three World Cup appearances with their best finish being the round of 16 in in 2019 where they were in the same group with Banyana Banyana who managed to breached La Roja defence for their first ever World Cup goal.
Costa Rica shocked many on their World Cup debut in 2015 drawing against giants Spain and South Korea, but failed to progress to the knockouts after losing to Brazil via a late goal.
FIXTURES
22 July 2023
Zambia v Japan
26 July 2023
Spain v Zambia
31 July 2023
Costa Rica v Zambia
SUPER FALCONS FACE HOSTS
Nigeria, who have qualified to nine consecutive World Cups, find themselves in Group B alongside tournament co-hosts Australia, debutants Republic of Ireland, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medallists Canada.
The Super Falcons will kick off their tournament against Canada, who have a rich history of success in women’s football having won their continental title, the CONCACAF Women’s Championship twice, and two bronze medal finishes at the Olympics.
The Falcon’s second match will be against co-hosts, the Matildas, who have been to seven previous World Cups where they reached quarterfinals on three occasions in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Australia have also been to four Olympic football tournaments, finishing fourth to miss out on bronze in the 2020 Games
The Super Falcons’ final Group B match will be against newbies Republic of Ireland, who are coached by former Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw, who has been credited for laying the foundation and structure for Africa champions’ success.
FIXTURES
21 July 2023
Nigeria v Canada
27 July 2023
Australia v Nigeria
31 July 2023
Republic of Ireland v Nigeria
AFRICAN RUNNERS-UP
The 2022 African Women’s Cup of nations hosts and runners-up Morocco are in Group H with heavyweights Germany, Colombia, and Korea Republic. Lionesses of Atlas’ first match at their first ever World Cup appearance will be against the two-time world champions Germany, having won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007.
The Lionesses’ second group game will be against South Korea, who have been to three previous Fifa World Cups in 2003, 2015, and 2019, with the Canada 2015 tournament being their best showing as they reached the round of 16.
The Moroccan’s last group match will be against Colombia, who will be making their third tournament appearance having been to Germany in 2011 and Canada in 2015. Las Cafeteras have however participated in all Copa América Femenina editions since 1998, finishing as runners-up in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
FIXTURES
24 July 2023
Germany v Morocco
30 July 2023
South Korea Morocco
3 August 2023
Morocco v Colombia
SENEGAL, CAMEROON IN PLAYOFFS
The final three spots at the World Cup will be decided in the inter-confederation playoffs next February. The African pair of Cameroon and Senegal will fancy their chances from Group A and B respectively.
Senegal will tackle Chile and Haiti in the playoffs, should they finish top they will progress to the tournament finals in Australia & New Zealand where they will be in Group E with USA, Vietnam and Netherlands.
Cameroon will face Portugal and Thailand in the playoffs looking to secure a ticket to the World Cup, where they will be in Group D alongside England, Denmark and China.
The third group sees Chinese Taipei, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea and Panama battle it out for a place in the World Cup Group F alongside France, Jamaica, and Brazil.
The winners of each of the three groups will join the other 29 teams in the World Cup set to kick off on July 20, with the final scheduled for August 20 at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.
FULL DRAW:
Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
Group B: Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
Group D: England, Group B play-off winners, Denmark, China PR
Group E: USA, Vietnam, Netherlands, Group A play-off winners
Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Group C play-off winners
Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, Korea Republic
•Courtesy supersport.com