By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
The second round of the CAF Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers came to a close with a flurry of goals, dominant performances and a few dramatic finishes, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive race to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. While several nations progressed with commanding aggregate victories, others had to battle through difficult ties to keep their Olympic dreams alive. Attention now shifts to the third round, scheduled for 23 February to 6 March 2027, with Cameroon facing Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco drawn against Nigeria in two of the standout encounters.
Kenya emerged as one of the biggest winners of the second round, recording an emphatic 11-0 victory over Seychelles to complete a remarkable 22-0 aggregate triumph. Jentrix Shikangwa scored a hat-trick, while Sylvia Makungu, Violet Nanjala, Vivian Nakasa, Mwanalina Jereko, Fasilia Adhiambo and Marian Musunga also contributed to the rout. The result underlined Kenya’s attacking strength ahead of a challenging third-round meeting with Malawi.
Algeria were similarly ruthless, defeating the Central African Republic 7-0 in the second leg to progress 15-0 on aggregate. Lynda Bendris and Mélissa Bethi both scored twice in a dominant display. Malawi also impressed, beating Zimbabwe 7-0 to complete a 9-0 aggregate victory, with Temwa Chawinga scoring a hat-trick and Tabitha Chawinga adding another goal. The two sides will now meet Kenya and Malawi in a highly anticipated third-round tie.
Nigeria and Ghana also advanced in convincing fashion. The Super Falcons defeated Comoros 5-0 to secure a 7-0 aggregate victory, with Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scoring twice each before Christie Ucheibe completed the scoring. Ghana swept aside Mauritius 7-0 in the second leg to advance 10-0 on aggregate, with Evelyn Badu, Portia Boakye, Ajegipina Zakaria, Mukarama Abdulai, Jennifer Cudjoe and Nancy Amoh among the scorers. Ghana will now face Zambia, who progressed after overcoming Uganda 5-3 on aggregate.
Tanzania dominated Botswana 6-0 in the return leg to advance 7-0 on aggregate and set up a meeting with Ethiopia. The Ethiopians booked their place after a 1-1 draw against Rwanda gave them a 2-1 aggregate success. South Africa also secured comfortable progress, completing a 7-0 aggregate victory over Madagascar after a 3-0 second-leg win. Gabriela Salgado and Ronnel Donnelly, who scored twice, were on target as Banyana Banyana set up a third-round clash with Angola.
Angola advanced after defeating Namibia 2-0 in the second leg, with Mila and Marlene finding the net. Elsewhere, Senegal defeated Tunisia 2-0 to progress 3-0 on aggregate, with Nguenar Ndiaye scoring both goals. They will face Mali, who survived a dramatic encounter against Benin. Despite losing the second leg 6-2, Mali progressed 7-5 on aggregate. Burkina Faso also moved through after drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea to secure a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Côte d’Ivoire completed a 7-1 aggregate victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, winning the return leg 3-0 through goals from N’Sira Safi Ouédraogo, Nadja Meité and Grace Sery. Their reward is a meeting with Cameroon, one of the most closely watched ties of the next round. The Indomitable Lionesses will need to combine defensive discipline with attacking efficiency against an Ivorian side that has demonstrated its ability to score freely.
For Cameroon, the tie offers a significant test of their ambitions to return to the Olympic stage. Their experience in major international competitions could prove valuable, but Côte d’Ivoire will arrive with confidence after their convincing performance against DR Congo. Both legs are likely to be crucial in determining which side advances to the next stage.
Morocco face an equally demanding assignment against Nigeria. The Atlas Lionesses have established themselves among Africa’s leading women’s football nations in recent years, but the Super Falcons possess considerable experience and attacking depth. The encounter promises to be one of the defining ties of the third round, with both teams seeking to maintain their hopes of reaching Los Angeles.
The remaining third-round fixtures will see Senegal face Mali, Algeria take on Burkina Faso, Ethiopia meet Tanzania, Angola play South Africa, Kenya battle Malawi, and Zambia take on Ghana. The eight ties will be contested over two legs between 23 February and 6 March 2027, with the aggregate winners progressing to the fourth round.
With only two African nations ultimately set to qualify for the women’s football tournament at Los Angeles 2028, the stakes will continue to rise as the competition progresses. After a second round marked by remarkable scorelines and convincing performances, the next stage promises a sterner examination of the continent’s leading contenders, with Cameroon and Morocco facing particularly demanding challenges on their journey towards Olympic qualification.
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