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The Independent Observer > Sports > Holders Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon and Tunisia among qualifiers

Holders Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon and Tunisia among qualifiers

Nigeria will defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title later this year after defeating Ivory Coast 1-0 in Abidjan to secure their spot at the finals in Morocco.

The Super Falcons, who had a 2-0 advantage heading into the second leg, netted with three minutes remaining through Esther Okoronkwo.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie had earlier saved a first-half penalty for the nine-time Nations Cup winners, and the Lady Elephants could not find a way through in the second half.

South Africa, runners up at the last tournament in 2018, have also qualified following a 1-1 draw in Algeria on Wednesday.

A fine looping header from Sylia Koui put the north Africans ahead in first-half injury time in Algiers, but Linda Motlhalo equalised from the penalty spot just after the hour mark to send Banyana Banyana through 3-1 on aggregate.

Elsewhere, Tunisia secured their ticket to the tournament after overcoming two-time champions Equatorial Guinea 7-3 on aggregate despite losing 3-2 in Malabo.

Meanwhile, Cameroon won 2-1 in The Gambia to wrap up a 10-1 overall triumph for the three-time runners-up and Botswana, Burkina Faso and Togo will all be making their debuts at the finals.

The Burkinabe beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0 to progress 7-0 on aggregate while Togo won 2-1 in Gabon to go through 4-2 over the two legs.

Botswana qualified on away goals following a 2-0 defeat at home by Zimbabwe, with the Zebras going through courtesy of their 3-1 win in last week’s first leg in Harare.

Those seven sides join hosts Morocco, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia and Senegal to complete the line-up for the 12-team tournament.

Morocco will host the Women’s Nations Cup from 2-23 July, with the four semi-finalists automatically qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

BBC