CAF confirms Abuja Stadium will host Nigeria vs Cote D’Ivoire AWCON qualifier

By Amaechi Agbo

Africa’s football ruling body, the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF have confirmed that the newly renovated Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja will host the first leg final qualifying match of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, AWCON against Cote D’Ivoire next week.

“After a first round that saw heavyweights like Ghana fall, it is now time for the second and final qualifying round for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022

“The first leg is scheduled for February 16 to 18 2022 with the return leg set for February 21 to 23.

“Due to Kenya’s withdrawal, Uganda became the first team to officially join hosts Morocco for the final twelve-team tournament. Ten places remain to be filled,” CAF said on Tuesday.

According to the fixtures, dates and venues released, first leg matches will hold on 16, 17, 18 February 2022

Burundi will battle Djibouti at the Stade Urukundo, Ngozi; Zambia will take on Namibia at the Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka;  Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso clash will hold at the Estadio 24 de Setembro, Bissau while Senegal will host Mali at the Stade Lat-Dior.

Others are: Togo vs Gabon at Stade de Kegué, Lomé; National Sports Stadium, Harare is the venue for Zimbabwe and Botswana clash; South Africa and Algeria will do battle at the Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg; Tunisia will lead Equatorial Guinea into Stade de Solimane, Solimane seeking to get past them while Nigeria’s Super Falcons will seek a revenge against the Baby Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja with Cameroon slugging it out against Gambia at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundé.

The reverse fixtures will hold on 21, 22 or 23 February, 2022.

Nigeria reached the final round after overcoming Black Queens of Ghana 2-1 on aggregate last year.