There are 12 teams left in the African qualifiers of the 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India, set for 11-30 October.
The third and penultimate round has seen first legs being played with the second scheduled for the end April or the beginning of May.
In a bizarre turn of events – five of the home teams lost their games, with only one host nation winning in their backyard.
South Africa’s Bantwana took on Ethiopia at the Wits Stadium in Johannesburg.
They have their backs against the wall after they were brushed aside by three goals to nil – one in the first half to two in the second period, that included an own goal.
They now have a mountain to climb for the reverse fixture on May 1 in Ethiopia.
Zambia hosted West Africans Cameroon at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
After a goalless first half, the visitors pounced with goals from Mana Lamine and Camiha Daha in the 48th and 68thminutes, taking the match away from the young Copper Queens.
The two nations will face off again at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde on April 30.
A brace on either side of the half by Tanzania’s Clara Luvanga, and one each Florentina Fulgence and Husna Mpanga saw the East African seal a convincing 4-0 win over Burundi at Stade Urukundo, Ngozi in Tanzania.
The result is almost a foregone conclusion as the visitors have all but secured their spot in the next round.
The return leg will be played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City on May 1.
Guinea put up a brave fight at home before going down 1-3 to Ghana at the General Lansana Conté Stadium in Nongo.
The Black Maidens scored through captain Georgina Ayisha Aoyem, Rasheedat Shahadu and Mariama Maltiti in the 13th, 31st and 59th minutes.
Despite grabbing a consolation goal three minutes after the break, Guinea will find the going tough in the second leg, which will be played on 30 April at the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Morocco vs Niger return leg on April 31 at Stade Moulay Hasan in Rabat, will be mere formality after the North Africans scored 11 goals without any reply from Niger.
The clash took place at Stade du Général Senyi Kountche in Niamey.
Goals started raining from as early as the ninth minute through Djennah Cherif, who went on to score three more in the 54th, 66th and 78th minutes.
Zouhir Yasmine also got in on the act and registered a hattrick (’45, ’60 ’74), while Doha el Madani bagged a brace 20 minutes into the encounter and also on the half hour mark.
Maysenne Khlifi and Yasmine Sioui chipped in with a goal each.
Nigeria is the only country that won at home, defeating the visiting Egypt 4-0 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Opeyemi Ajakayi opened the scoring 28 minutes into the match before Omowunmi Bello extended the lead in the 38thminute for a 2-0 half time advantage.
Miracle Usani made it 3-0 in the 54th minute and Bello completed her brace eight minutes later for a convincing victory, making things even more difficult for the North Africans in the second leg.
The overall winners of this round will progress to the fourth and final stage of the qualifiers.
The remaining six nations will then play on a home and away basis to determine the three African representatives at the women’s U17 world football showpiece in India.
The 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be the 7th edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2008.
Hosts India were scheduled to host the event in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
This will be the second time the country organises a FIFA tournament, after the men’s 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup.
It will also be the first time that India hosts a FIFA women’s football tournament.
The defending champions are Spain, who lifted the trophy, their first ever, in 2018.
Third round results:
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Zambia | M17 | 0–2 | April 30 | |
| Burundi | M18 | 0-4 | May 1 | |
| South Africa | M19 | 0–3 | May 1 | |
| Nigeria | M20 | 4-0 | TBD | |
| Guinea | M21 | 1-3 | April 30 | |
| Niger | M22 | 0-11 | April 29 |
Fourth and final round fixtures:
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Winner M17 | M23 | Winner M18 | ||
| Winner M19 | M24 | Winner M20 | ||
| Winner M21 | M25 | Winner M22 |
By Matlhomola Morake
