WAFU A: The 2020 women’s tournament begins with Sierra Leone vs. Cape Verde.

The WAFU Zone A senior women’s tournament is set to kick off this Tuesday in Bo, Sierra Leone, bringing together some of the strongest women’s national teams in West Africa. The opening match will feature the hosts, Sierra Leone, taking on Cape Verde in what promises to be an exciting start to the competition. As the host nation, Sierra Leone will be eager to make the most of home advantage and contend for the trophy, hoping to inspire local fans and demonstrate the progress of women’s football in the country.

The tournament features eight teams divided into two groups. Following the opening match, Guinea will face Senegal, setting the tone for Group A with two strong sides battling for early points. The following day, Group B’s fixtures will kick off, with Mali facing Gambia and Liberia taking on Guinea-Bissau. All matches are scheduled to be played across the cities of Bo and Makeni, ensuring a regional spread and allowing fans in multiple locations to experience high-level women’s football firsthand.

This WAFU Zone A tournament is more than just a regional competition; it serves as a key preparation platform for the 2020 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. For many of the participating teams, the tournament offers an opportunity to test squad depth, evaluate tactical setups, and give younger players exposure to competitive international matches. For the senior women’s national teams, the event is a critical step in building cohesion and match fitness ahead of continental qualification.

The tournament format is straightforward, with group-stage matches determining which teams advance to the later stages. The group matches will continue over several days, culminating in the final set of fixtures on March 7th. Each match is expected to be highly competitive, as teams vie not only for immediate success but also to fine-tune their squads for upcoming challenges on the African stage.

Sierra Leone, as hosts, will carry the dual pressure and pride of playing in front of home fans. Their goal will be to use this tournament to assert dominance in the region while preparing for the Women’s AFCON qualifiers. Meanwhile, other teams such as Guinea, Senegal, Mali, and Liberia will be keen to use the competition to gain momentum, experiment with lineups, and showcase emerging talent.

With the opening day already promising competitive clashes, the WAFU Zone A senior women’s tournament is set to deliver quality football and excitement for fans of women’s sport in West Africa. Beyond the trophies and results, the tournament represents a key opportunity for growth, talent development, and regional solidarity among women’s national teams in the zone. By the time the final whistle blows on March 7th, the participating nations will have gained invaluable experience, helping raise the overall standard of women’s football in West Africa.

In summary, the WAFU Zone A tournament in Bo and Makeni is not just a regional competition—it is a preparation ground, a showcase of emerging talent, and a celebration of women’s football, with Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau all competing for glory and experience ahead of the 2020 Women’s AFCON qualifiers.