The three Africa’s representatives at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup are all from West Africa – Nigeria, Ghana and debutants, Cameroon.
Whereas Nigeria qualified for their 5th FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, it was the first time that Cameroon made it in history.
The Flamingoes (Nigeria U -17 Women team) defeated South Africa 1-0 at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, Johanneburg.
Team skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade, who scored four times as the Nigerians won 6-0 in the first leg in Abuja, netted the only goal of the match.
It was her eighth in four qualifying matches as she had also scored three over two legs when the Flamingoes thrashed Namibia 9-0.
For the first time, Cameroon has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, confirming their place for the 2016 edition later in the year in Jordan alongside Ghana and Nigeria.
The Cameroonians saw off Egypt 4-0 in the return leg on Saturday to book their spot for the first time. Ghana’s Black Maidens and the Flamingos of Nigeria have qualified for every edition of the biennial championship since its inception in 2008.
Following a 2-1 loss from the first leg in Douala, Egypt needed just a lone goal victory to qualify for a global women’s championship for the first time. However, they were shocked by their visitors, Cameroon, who ensured their dream became far from reality with a 4-0 win in the reverse in Cairo on Saturday, and advancing 6-1 on aggregate.
In Accra, Ghana’s Maidens proved too strong for their counterparts from Morocco with a 6-0 win and confirm their ticket to Jordan in grand style, 10-0 on aggregate.
A brace from substitute Barikisu Abdul Rahman and four others were all the West Africans required to qualify for the competition they exited at the quarter finals at the last edition played in Costa Rica.
The host started strongly and stayed dominant for greater part of the match which witnessed a strong patronage by an army of female spectators following authorities’ decision to throw the gates open in order to attract supporters.
Mukarama Abdulai, Sandra Owusu-Ansah, Philicity Asuako and Grace Acheampong all found themselves on the scorers list as the Maidens marched on to another World Cup.
Mukarama sent Ghana ahead as early as the third minute when she controlled well from a deep pass by Mustapha Adizatu from the right flank to beat the Moroccan goalkeeper Ouhatte Hasnae.
Ghana had firmly established control at this point and Asuako took advantage of poor defending by the Moroccan defence to double her side’s advantage six minutes before the break from the spot following an infringement in the box.
Half time talks appeared to have favoured Morocco who came in stronger from recess but their rejuvenation was short-lived as the winners stepped strongly on the pedal again
Against the run of play, substitute Abdul Rahman made immediate impact with her first goal in the 64th minute and another 17 minutes on to keep the cruise smooth.
Soon, Captain Owusu Ansah and Acheampong completed the demolishing to seal Ghana’s qualification.
Results
Saturday, 26 March 2016
Ghana 6-0 Morocco (4-0)
South Africa 0-1 Nigeria (0-6)
Egypt 0-4 Cameroon (1-2)
