During the 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup in Cameroon last June, four teams were qualified for the World Championship to be held in Spain in 2021. These teams are Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Tunisia.

ANGOLA 

Angola won the 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup, after a postponement of six months due to the COVID-19.

The preparation for the World Cup Spain 2021 began in Angola on October 20 and continued until November 7 in Luanda. Arrived in Székesfehérvár (Hungary), since November 8, the team led by the coach Filipe Cruz is training hard before flying to Spain.

Filipe Cruz will present a restructured team without the goalkeeper Teresa Almeida, nicknamed « Bá », without Azenaide Carlod, without Magda Cazanga and without Natalia Bernardo.

The Angolans will play with the Hungarian teams and will try to face Japan, which is also in Hungary.

Key players: Isabel Guialo (left back/center), Albertina Kassoma (pivot), Helena de Sousa (goalkeeper), Helena Gilda Simao Paulo (center back/left wing)

Qualification for Spain 2021: 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup – Champions

Tournament history: 1990: 16th, 1993: 16th, 1995: 16th, 1997: 15th, 1999: 15th, 2001: 13th, 2003: 17th, 2005: 16th, 2007: 7th, 2009: 11th, 2011: 8th, 2013: 16th, 2015: 16th, 2017: 19th, 2019: 15th

Group at Spain 2021: Group A (France, Montenegro, Angola, Slovenia)

CAMEROON 

Cameroon won its second place in the 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup Cameroon 2021, its best ranking since 2004.

Coach Serge Christian Guebogo is optimistic about the future of his team:

« This is a young group. The average age is 22 years. Our goal is to do better than at the last world championship. If possible, we want to reach the first place in the President’s Cup. »

The lionesses train daily to be at their best at the World Championship.

Key players: Anne Michelle Essam (center back), Karichma Kaltouma Ekoh (right back), Cyrielle Cebanga Baboga (right back).

Qualification for Spain 2021: 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup – 2nd place

History in the tournament: 2005: 22nd, 2017: 20th

Group at Spain 2021: Group B (RHF, Serbia, Cameroon, Poland)

CONGO 

After their victory 21:20 (11:6) over Senegal in the quarterfinals of the 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup and their qualification for the semifinals, the players of Congo have confirmed their place at Spain 2021, thanks to the four qualification places available for Africa.

The « Red Devils » began their preparation at the end of September in Brazzaville with the first ever training camp at the Gymnase Nicole OBA for the Congo-based players. The city of Kintele hosted the second training camp in October, a camp in which a large number of players from France participated and which also consisted of matches against the junior men’s team of Congo at the Kintele Sports Center.

Their last training camp will take place from November 18 to 30 in Turkey. Coach Tatby will work with 21 players before naming his final list at the end of the last preparation period.

Key players: Sharon Dorson (pivot), Josephine Nkou (left wing), Kassandra Jappont (center back), Fanta Diagouraga (right wing), Lucette Myleine Bibila Moukietou (left wing).

Qualification for Spain 2021: 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup – 4th place

Tournament history: 1982: 12th, 1999: 22nd, 2001: 22nd, 2007: 17th, 2009: 20th

Group at Spain 2021: Group F (Denmark, Korea Republic, Tunisia, Congo)

TUNISIA 

After losing their semi-final against Angola in an epic match at the 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup, 23:27 (21:21), Tunisia will occupy the 3rd place in the final ranking just ahead of Congo. This place among the top four of the continent has ensured them a qualification for Spain 2021.

The provisional team for Spain 2021 consists mainly of players based in Tunisia, with a handful of others playing outside the country, in France, Egypt and Romania. Coach Ben Amor has also called up eight players who have yet to make a national team appearance and 12 who have fewer than 10 outings, including lineman Mariem Gmar, who made her national team debut for Cameroon at age 29.

To prepare for Spain 2021, Coach Ben Amor worked in September in Nabeul with the Tunisia-based players, before traveling to Paris for three friendlies matches against local clubs and Belgium. In October (4-10), he will gather his entire team for group training.

« This last African Cup of Nations has given birth to a team that will very soon be able to win the African title again, » said Moez Ben Amor, head coach of the Tunisian team.

The rest of October saw the players return to their clubs before another period of preparation during the international week in November.

Key players: Fadia Omrani (goalkeeper), Fadwa Aouij (right back), Rakia Rezgui (pivot), Sondes Hachana (center back).

Qualification for Spain 2021: 24th Seniors Women’s Africa Nations Cup – 3rd place.

History in the tournament: 1975: 12th, 2001: 19th, 2003: 18th, 2007: 15th, 2009: 14th, 2011: 18th, 2013: 17th, 2015: 21st, 2017: 24th

Group at Spain 2021: Group F (Denmark, Korea, Tunisia, Congo)