# 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations

The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Arabic: كأس الأمم الإفريقية للسيدات 2022, French: Coupe d'Afrique des nations féminine 2022), (also referred to as WAFCON 2022) officially known as the 2022 TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes, was the 14th edition of the biennial African international women's football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), hosted by Morocco from 2 to 23 July 2022.
The tournament also doubled as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The top four teams qualified for the World Cup, and two more teams advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Nigeria were the three-time defending champions, having won the previous 3 editions in 2014, 2016 and 2018; but had its journey ended in the semi-finals after losing to the hosts Morocco on penalties, making it for the first time neither Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea featured in the final. The hosts went on to lose to South Africa in the final, as South Africa claimed its first ever continental trophy after five previous attempts. With this triumph, South Africa joined Nigeria as the only countries to have won both the men's and women's competition.
This was the first edition to feature 12 teams as the 2020 edition, which would have been the first, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The Morocco vs Nigeria semi-final broke the WAFCON attendance records with 45,562 spectators.

## Host selection

Morocco were announced as hosts on 15 January 2021. This is the first time a North African Arab country has hosted the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

## Mascot

The mascot for this edition of the tournament was unveiled as "TITRIT" (a Moroccan Berber name meaning "star" or "celebrity"), a young lioness clothed with the home jersey of the host nation's national football team, with a traditional Moroccan tiara.

## Qualification

Morocco qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining eleven spots were determined by the qualifying rounds.

### Qualified teams

| Team | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Date of qualification | Previous best performance | Previous World Cup appearances | FIFA ranking at start of event |
| Morocco (hosts) | 3rd | 2000 | 15 January 2021 | Group stage (1998, 2000) | 0 | 77 |
| Uganda | 2nd | 2000 | 28 January 2022 | Group stage (2000) | 0 | 156 |
| Burundi | 1st | — | 21 February 2022 | Debut | 0 | 169 |
| Zambia | 4th | 2018 | 22 February 2022 | Quarter finals (1995) | 0 | 103 |
| Senegal | 2nd | 2012 | 22 February 2022 | Group stage (2012) | 0 | 89 |
| Togo | 1st | — | 23 February 2022 | Debut | 0 | 118 |
| Nigeria | 14th | 2018 | 23 February 2022 | Champions (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) | 8 | 39 |
| Tunisia | 2nd | 2008 | 23 February 2022 | Group stage (2008) | 0 | 72 |
| Burkina Faso | 1st | — | 23 February 2022 | Debut | 0 | 138 |
| Botswana | 1st | — | 23 February 2022 | Debut | 0 | 152 |
| Cameroon | 13th | 2018 | 23 February 2022 | Runners-up (1991, 2004, 2014, 2016) | 2 | 54 |
| South Africa | 13th | 2018 | 23 February 2022 | Runners-up (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018) | 1 | 58 |

## Venues

The tournament was held in Casablanca and Rabat.
| Morocco | Rabat | Rabat | Casablanca |
| RabatCasablanca | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | Stade Moulay Hassan | Stade Mohammed V |
| RabatCasablanca | Capacity: 50,000 | Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 45,891 |

## Match officials

A total of 16 referees, 16 assistant referees and 8 VAR referees were appointed for the tournament.
Originally, Fatima El Ajjani (Morocco) was assigned as video assistant referee only. However, she was assigned as principal referee during the tournament after Aïssata Boudy Lam (Mauritania) sustained an injury.

### Referees

* Suavis Iratunga
* Zomadre Kore
* Shahenda El-Maghrabi
* Letticia Viana
* Lidya Tafesse
* Maria Rivet
* Aïssata Boudy Lam
* Fatima El Ajjani
* Bouchra Karboubi
* Antsino Twanyanyukwa
* Ndidi Patience Madu
* Salima Mukansanga
* Mame Faye
* Akhona Makalima
* Vincentia Amedome
* Dorsaf Ganouati
* Shamira Nabadda

### Assistant referees

* Asma Ouahab
* Nafissatou Yekini
* Carine Atezambong
* Kanjinga Mujanayi
* Yara Abdelfattah
* Mona Atallah
* Lidwine Rakotozafinoro
* Bernadettar Kwimbira
* Fanta Kone
* Queency Victoire
* Mariem Chedad
* Soukaina Hamdi
* Fatiha Jermoumi
* Mimisen Iyorhe
* Afine Houda
* Diana Chikotesha

### Video assistant referees

* Lahlou Benbraham
* Ahmed El-Ghandour
* Ahmed Ibrahim
* Ahmad Heerallal
* Zakaria Brindisi
* Samir Guezzaz
* Haythem Guirat

## Draw

The final draw was held in Rabat, Morocco on 29 April 2022 at 20:30 GMT (UTC±0). The twelve teams were drawn into three groups of four teams, with the hosts Morocco, reigning champions Nigeria, and next-highest-ranked Cameroon assigned to positions A1, C1, and B1, respectively.
| Seeds | Pot 1 |
| Morocco (A1)  Cameroon (B1)  Nigeria (C1) | Togo  Uganda  Zambia  Burundi  Tunisia  Senegal  Botswana  Burkina Faso  South Africa |

## Group stage

CAF released the official match schedule for the tournament on 29 April 2022. The top two teams of each group, along with the best two third-placed teams, advanced to the quarter-finals.

### Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss).
If two teams were tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 74):
* Points in head-to-head matches match between the two tied teams;
* Goal difference in all group matches;
* Goals scored in all group matches;
* Drawing of lots.
If more than two teams were tied, the following criteria were applied instead:
* Points in matches between the tied teams;
* Goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
* Goals scored in matches between the tied teams;
* If after applying all criteria above, two teams were still tied, the above criteria were again applied to matches played between the two teams in question. If this did not resolve the tie, the next three criteria were applied;
* Goal difference in all group matches;
* Goals scored in all group matches;
* Drawing of lots.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Morocco (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Senegal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 | |
| 4 | Uganda | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 1 | |

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Zambia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 5 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Knockout stage |
| 4 | Togo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 1 | |

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 6 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | Knockout stage |
| 4 | Burundi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 0 | |

### Ranking of third-placed teams

| Pos | Grp | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | B | Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | C | Botswana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | A | Burkina Faso | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 | |

## Knockout stage
### Bracket

| Quarter finals | Quarter finals | Semi finals | Semi finals | | Final | Final |
| 13 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | 13 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | | | |
| Morocco | 2 | | | |
| Morocco | 2 | 18 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | 18 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | | |
| Botswana | 1 | 18 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | 18 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | |
| Botswana | 1 | Morocco (p) | 1 (5) | |
| 14 July – Casablanca | 14 July – Casablanca | | Morocco (p) | 1 (5) | |
| 14 July – Casablanca | 14 July – Casablanca | Nigeria | 1 (4) | |
| Cameroon | 0 | Nigeria | 1 (4) | |
| Cameroon | 0 | | | | 23 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | 23 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) |
| Nigeria | 1 | | | | 23 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) | 23 July – Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah) |
| Nigeria | 1 | | | | Morocco | 1 |
| 13 July – Casablanca | 13 July – Casablanca | | | | | Morocco | 1 |
| 13 July – Casablanca | 13 July – Casablanca | | | | South Africa | 2 |
| Zambia (p) | 1 (4) | | | | South Africa | 2 |
| Zambia (p) | 1 (4) | 18 July – Casablanca | 18 July – Casablanca | | | |
| Senegal | 1 (2) | 18 July – Casablanca | 18 July – Casablanca | | | |
| Senegal | 1 (2) | Zambia | 0 | | | |
| 14 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | 14 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | | Zambia | 0 | | | |
| 14 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | 14 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | South Africa | 1 | | Third place | Third place |
| South Africa | 1 | South Africa | 1 | | Third place | Third place |
| South Africa | 1 | | | | 22 July – Casablanca | 22 July – Casablanca |
| Tunisia | 0 | | | | 22 July – Casablanca | 22 July – Casablanca |
| Tunisia | 0 | | | | Nigeria | 0 |
| | | | | | Zambia | 1 |
| Repechage | Repechage |
| 17 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) | 17 July – Rabat (Moulay Hassan) |
| Botswana | 0 |
| Cameroon | 1 |
| 17 July – Casablanca | 17 July – Casablanca |
| Senegal (p) | 0 (4) |
| Tunisia | 0 (2) |

### Quarter-finals

The winners qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The losers entered a repechage round.

### Repechage

The winners advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.

### Final
## Goalscorers

There were 63 goals scored in 28 matches, for an average of 2.25 goals per match.
3 goals
* Ghizlane Chebbak
* Rasheedat Ajibade
* Hildah Magaia
2 goals
* Keitumetse Dithebe
* Refilwe Tholakele
* Sandrine Niyonkuru
* Ajara Nchout
* Rosella Ayane
* Sanaâ Mssoudy
* Uchenna Kanu
* Nguenar Ndiaye
* Linda Motlhalo
* Jermaine Seoposenwe
* Mafille Woedikou
* Sabrine Ellouzi
* Grace Chanda
* Avell Chitundu
1 goal
* Lesego Radiakanyo
* Adama Congo
* Adèle Kabré
* Aniella Uwimana
* Michaela Abam
* Estelle Johnson
* Nesryne El Chad
* Yasmin Mrabet
* Peace Efih
* Ifeoma Onumonu
* Christy Ucheibe
* Ndeye Awa Diakhaté
* Korka Fall
* Thembi Kgatlana
* Nthabiseng Majiya
* Amogelang Motau
* Odette Gnintegma
* Mariem Houij
* Sumaya Komuntale
* Margret Kunihira
* Sandra Nabweteme
* Ireen Lungu
* Siomara Mapepa
1 own goal
* Yasmin Mrabet (against Nigeria)
* Chiamaka Nnadozie (against Zambia)
* Amé Amouklou (against Tunisia)

## Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:
| Award | Winner |
| Best player | Ghizlane Chebbak |
| Best goalkeeper | Andile Dlamini |
| Top scorer | Ghizlane Chebbak Rasheedat Ajibade Hildah Magaia |
| Fair Play | South Africa |

## Qualified teams for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

The following teams will represent Africa directly at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, while two more teams will have opportunities to join them through the inter-confederation playoffs.
| Team | Qualified on | Previous appearances in FIFA Women's World Cup |
| Zambia | 13 July 2022 | 0 (debut) |
| Morocco | 13 July 2022 | 0 (debut) |
| Nigeria | 14 July 2022 | 8 (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) |
| South Africa | 14 July 2022 | 1 (2019) |
    $^1$ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.