Women's Afcon 2022: Zambia and Senegal qualify for finals in Morocco

Zambia Women celebrate a goalGetty Images

Zambia were knocked out in the group stages of the last Women's Nations Cup in 2018, and also featured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Zambia and Senegal have reached the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations despite both failing to win the second leg of their respective second round play-off ties on Tuesday.

Zambia secured their qualification on away goals following a 1-1 draw against Namibia, while Senegal went through 3-2 on penalties after a 1-0 defeat in Mali.

Senegal had beaten their West African rivals 1-0 in last week's first leg, but Agueissa Diarra's 14th-minute goal in Bamako meant the game went to spot kicks.

Senegal's women will now appear at the Nations Cup finals for the first time since 2012, and have a chance to emulate the men's side after the Teranga Lions won their first-ever continental title earlier this month.

The second leg of Zambia's play-off, played in South Africa with Namibia as the designated home side, saw both teams approach the match in an attacking manner after a goalless draw in the first leg last Wednesday.

Namibia took an early lead through Emma Naris and were ahead at the break following a first half which saw chances for both sides in Johannesburg.

However, the Copper Queens punished Namibia with 20 minutes to go through substitute Siomala Mapepa and the 1-1 draw was enough for Zambia to make the finals for the third time in their history.

Zambia and Senegal become the fourth and fifth sides to book their spots at the finals after hosts Morocco, Uganda and Burundi, who secured their place with a 11-1 aggregate win over Djibouti on Monday.

The final seven qualifying ties will be decided on Wednesday.

Morocco will host the Women's Nations Cup from 2-23 July, with the four semi-finalists automatically qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Women's Afcon second-round play-off second leg results and fixtures

Tuesday, 22 February

  • Namibia 1-1 Zambia (1-1 agg - Zambia qualify on away goals)

  • Mali 1-0 Senegal (1-1 agg - Senegal win 3-2 on penalties)

Wednesday, 23 February

  • Gabon v Togo (1-2 agg) (Libreville, 14:30 GMT)

  • Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia (0-5 agg) (Malabo, 15:00 GMT)

  • The Gambia v Cameroon (0-8 agg) (Bakau, 15:00 GMT)

  • Ivory Coast v Nigeria (0-2 agg) (Abidjan, 15:00 GMT)

  • Burkina Faso v Guinea-Bissau (6-0 agg) (Porto-Novo, 16:00 GMT)

  • Botswana v Zimbabwe (3-1 agg) (Francistown, 17:00 GMT)

  • Algeria v South Africa (0-2 agg) (Algiers, 17:00 GMT)

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