{"id":1149193,"date":"2022-07-14T15:38:34","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T15:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/07\/14\/morocco-and-zambia-reach-maiden-womens-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2022-07-14T15:38:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T15:38:34","slug":"morocco-and-zambia-reach-maiden-womens-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/07\/14\/morocco-and-zambia-reach-maiden-womens-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Morocco and Zambia reach maiden Women’s World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Morocco
Morocco celebrate their historic Women’s World Cup qualification in front of a packed house in Rabat
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Morocco and Zambia both qualified for the Women\u2019s World Cup for the first time after winning their Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) quarter-finals on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Not only the first North African country to host a Wafcon, Morocco\u2019s 2-1 victory against Botswana makes them the first country from the region to qualify for the Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

Earlier, goalkeeper Hazel Nali was the hero for Zambia in their penalty shootout win against Senegal, after extra time had finished 1-1 in Casablanca.<\/p>\n

All four Wafcon semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 32-team tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Botswana and Senegal have\u00a0a final chance\u00a0to join their conquerors in the tournament when both play in repechage ties at the weekend to decide Africa\u2019s two teams to contest an intercontinental play-off next year.<\/p>\n

Impressing again with their flowing football, Morocco earned their fourth win in as many games in the capital Rabat to see off a Botswana side who fought to the end.<\/p>\n

Livewire Sanaa Mssoudy opened the scoring three minutes in when smartly flicking home Fatima Tagnaout\u2019s free-kick, but Botswana hit back just four minutes as Keitumetse Dithebe curled home a stunning free-kick.<\/p>\n

Just before the hour, the irrepressible Tagnaout delivered again as her cross was headed home by Yasmin Mrabet for a goal greeted by flares in the packed-out stands.<\/p>\n

Morocco has invested hugely in women\u2019s football in recent years and reaching the Women\u2019s World Cup has been a stated aim.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Zambia edge tight contest<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \"Zambia
    Goalkeeper Hazel Nali scored the winning spot-kick for Zambia seconds after saving one herself<\/em>
    <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    A year after their Olympic debut, Zambia have reached their first Women\u2019s World Cup, which they first tried to do in the mid-1990s.<\/p>\n

    Their qualification is all the more impressive given the absence of star striker Barbra Banda, who has missed the tournament over\u00a0\u2018gender eligibility\u2019\u00a0issues.<\/p>\n

    READ ALSO<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Just seconds after keeping out Ndiaye Diakhate\u2019s spot-kick, Nali stepped up herself to clinch the shootout 4-2 and send Zambia to their first Wafcon semi-final.<\/p>\n

    After a tight opening between sides playing a Wafcon knockout tie for the first time, Senegal took the lead when Nguenar Ndiaye ran in unmarked to head home skipper Mbayang Sow\u2019s deep free-kick just after the hour.<\/p>\n

    Just as the Senegalese looked to be cruising, Zambia were handed a gift when goalkeeper Tenning Sene dropped Lushomo Mweemba\u2019s long-range free-kick under no pressure to present Avell Chitundu with a sitter after 70 minutes.<\/p>\n

    Extra time was lively late on as Senegal\u2019s Mama Diop had an opening in the final moments, before Zambia went close through Ochumba Lubandji\u2019s fine strike and the impressive Mweemba\u2019s header against the crossbar.<\/p>\n

    In the shootout, Senegal missed their first kick as Korka Fall shot wide before Sene thought she had made amends when denying Mweemba, only for Nali to take them into Monday\u2019s semi-final against either South Africa or Tunisia.<\/p>\n

    The latter two meet in Thursday\u2019s second quarter-final, with nine-time and defending champions Nigeria facing three-time runners-up Cameroon beforehand.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n