Women’s Africa Cup of Nations: Who are the favourites?

Africa’s top women superstars will take to the field in Morocco in July to contest the 14^th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

It’s set to be a stacked field, and with the tournament having been skipped amidst the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, expect the big names of the women’s game to be raring to go as they compete for the continent’s grandest prize.

Ahead of Friday’s group-stage draw, GOAL preview the top five contenders ahead of Friday’s WAfcon draw.

Asisat Oshoala’s recent injury—sustained while on duty with Barcelona—represents a setback for the Super Falcons, who now face a race against time to be fit and firing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

It’s been an injury-hit year for the attacker, who would have been hoping to inspire the West African giants to victory in Morocco.

Without her, Randy Waldrum will require some of the 11-time champions’ other players to step up, but he’ll hope his stacked squad can go the difference with or without their talisman.

Runners-up on four occasions—including in both 2014 and 2016—Cameroon will be desperate to go one further this time around.

Qualification came amidst a flurry of goals—eight at home against The Gambia—and the Lionesses certainly have the quality to cause the Super Falcons (and others) great concern.

Ajara Nchout—now of Internazionale—has the potential to be one of the stars of the tournament, and will assist in Friday’s draw.

The third of the top seeds, Morocco will be boosted by home advantage—which served the men’s African Nations Championship team well during their victory in 2018—but also have considerable talent to turn to as well.

They’ve lost only once in the last year, and a five-game winning streak—including a recent 2-0 friendly victory over Ghana’s Black Queens—bodes well.

The most successful side in this year’s tournament never to have won the big one, Banyana Banyana have reached five finals without ever having got their hand on Africa’s biggest prize.

In 2018, their performance was enough to qualify for the World Cup, but a penalty shootout defeat by Nigeria following a 0-0 draw ultimately denied them the chance of winning a first ever continental crown.

Despite turnover in the squad, that previous performance can give all those of a South African persuasion that Banyana can finally clinch the title.

Africa’s representatives at the Olympics last year, Zambia endured a rollercoaster tournament, with the Shepolopolo learning a few hard lessons on the way to a first round exit.

Barba Banda’s performance during that campaign made a broader audience aware of her immense qualities, and she has the potential to star once again.

However, an unconvincing playoff victory over Namibia during the qualifying campaign—they only advanced on away goals—has dampened expectations.