2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations

2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, (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
Venues
The tournament was held in Casablanca and Rabat.
Squads
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.
Group stage
CAF released the official match schedule for the tournament on 29 April 2022.
All times are local, (UTC+1).
Tiebreakers
Group A
Group B
Group C
Ranking of third-placed teams
Knockout stage
Bracket
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.
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Final
Goalscorers
Awards
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:
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.
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
Notes
References
External links
2022
2020s in Moroccan sport
Women Cup of Nations
2022 in women's association football
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
International association football competitions hosted by Morocco
July 2022 sports events in Africa