Morocco was the last Africa team to open their campaign, they took on two-time world champion Germany at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Monday, with the Germans humbling the first Arab team to play in the Women’s World Cup 6-0.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the first African team to take the field at the 2023 FIFA World Cup following the tournament opening game on Thursday, were held to a goalless draw by Olympic champions Canada.
Sweden came from behind to defeat South Africa with Amanda Ilestedt’s 90th-minute winner securing Sweden a 2-1 win, dousing any hope of a first-ever win for the Bayana Bayana girls, the Copper Queens of Zambia were trashed five goals to nil by the Japan women’s team.
African teams have conceded 13 goals in the tournament and scored just two goals with the CAF President in his speech to the African contingent asking the women to emulate the historic milestone of the Morocco men’s football team who reached the semi-final of the Mundial in Qatar.
He said: “We are confident that the good work that Morocco did in Qatar, they made history and made us very proud, and we are confident that the nations representing us in Australia and New Zealand FIFA Women’s World Cup, will make us proud, we wish them all the best.”
African teams will be looking to emulate the feat achieved in France 2019. For the first time, two African teams booked places in the knockout stage, Nigeria and Cameroon in the last sixteen.
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