Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, South Africa and Zambia have all booked their tickets to the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana.
African Champions Super Falcons of Nigeria sealed the last slot on Monday after thrashing Gambia 6-0 to complete a 7-0 aggregate victory after winning the first leg 1-0 in Banjul a week ago.
Striker Desire Oparanozie scored four goals with Asisat Oshoala netting a brace to help the 10-time continental champions qualify for the football showpiece that will begin in November.
In other qualifier games played on Sunday, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana breezed to the finals after walloping hapless Lesotho 6-0 in their second leg clash at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Jermaine Seoposenwe and Chantelle Esau netted a brace with Hilda Magaia and Leandra Smeda scoring a goal each.
The Sasol-sponsored side had won by a solitary goal in the first leg tie that was played on Wednesday last week away at Sesoto Stadium courtesy of Leandra Smeda’s strike.
Ivory Coast were looking good to claim the other berth but were held to a goalless draw by Mali at home. The stalemate made the Eaglets sail through on away goal rule as both teams had tied 2-2 in the first leg encounter.
Earlier on Saturday, Zambia staged a dramatic come back to beat Zimbabwe away in Harare to qualify.
Shepolopolo went into the match trailing Zimbabwe by a lone goal having lost 1-0 in Lusaka hence needed to record an outright win to give themselves a fighting chance.
Erina Jeke scored for the home side minutes before the break but the Zambians came back stronger in the second stanza. It took Bruce Mwape’s coached side only nine minutes to level matters through Hellen Chanda’s volley.
Barbara Banda scored the winner late in the second half to seal the victory for Shepolopolo.
In another match, Algeria completed a double over Ethiopia to cruise to the final tournament. The ‘Les Dames Fennecs’ managed to defeat Lucy in Addis Ababa 3-2 to complete a resounding 6-3 aggregate victory.
On Friday, Kenya hopes of qualifying for their second Awcon ended following their 2-0 defeat away to Equatorial Guinea at the Estadio de Malabo.
Having won the home match 2-1 in a midweek fixture early in the week in Machakos, the Harambee Starlets needed a draw of any kind or a win to be guaranteed qualification.
Kenya will now hope the appeal they filed against Equatorial Guinea falls in their favour for them to head to Ghana for a back-to-back participation in the biggest women’s competition in Africa when this year’s edition tees off in November.
In Yaoundé, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses beat Congo 5-0 to qualify having won the first leg on the same margin to go through 10-0 on aggregate.
In the first leg, Therese Abena, Norway-based Ajara Nchout Njoya, Madeleine ‘Manie’ Ngono, Grâce Yango and Gabrielle Aboudi scored the goals that eased pressure for the 2016 silver medallists before the return leg.
Featured photo: Daily Trust
