The first round of qualifying matches for the Women’s Football Tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games kicked off on Monday. Several fixtures were affected by withdrawals, with Zambia and Ivory Coast automatically advancing after Angola and Sierra Leone pulled out.
Key matches to follow in this opening round include Mali versus Morocco, Tanzania against DR Congo, and Gabon facing Congo, all of which could set the tone for the competition. These early encounters will be crucial for teams hoping to advance and make a mark in the tournament.
Top African teams such as Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa will enter the competition in the next round, scheduled for October, giving them a later start but maintaining their status as favorites.
The full program for the first round, taking place from April 1st to 9th, 2019, is as follows:
- Mali vs Morocco
- Algeria vs Chad
- Ethiopia vs Uganda
- Tanzania vs DR Congo
- Gabon vs Congo
- Malawi vs Mozambique
- Botswana vs Namibia
These qualifiers mark the beginning of the journey for African women’s teams aiming to secure a spot at the Tokyo Olympics, highlighting the growing competitiveness and talent across the continent.
