Ghana, Tanzania and Guinea progressed to the fourth and penultimate round of the African qualifiers for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, Costa Rica 2022 after positive results in their respective second leg matches of the third qualifying round on Saturday.
After playing a barren draw in the first leg, the Black Princesses of Ghana defeated the Young Copper Queens of Zambia 1-0 at the Cape Coast Stadium on Saturday, December 18, 2021 in a FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup qualifier.
A first half strike from Hasaacas Ladies player Evelyn Badu was all that the Black Princesses needed to win the game to advance to the next phase of the qualifiers.
The defeat did not only dashed Zambia’s maiden qualification dreams but also confirmed the elimination of all COSAFA representatives from the ongoing qualification campaign after the earlier exits of Botswana and South Africa.
Ghana will now play Uganda who knocked out South Africa in the previous round.
Guinea couldn’t overturned a 0-2 first leg deficit against Senegal to qualify to the final round after getting beating 3-1 (3-3) in the second leg.
Nambinty Sylla opened the scoring in the 38th minute and Fanta Sanda Camara doubled the lead to see the home side levelled on aggregate before Walimata N’Diaye secured the needed away goal just four minutes into the second half.
Nana Camara scored once again for the hosts in additional time but her effort was not enough to see them through as the visitors progressed on away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate score.
Senegal will next face Morocco who sent the Gambia packing on a 9-1 aggregate victory.
After a narrow 3-2 win first leg result in Dar es Salaam, eight-woman Tanzanites held on to a hard fought 1-1 draw against Burundi.
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Tanzanian forward, Emeliana Isaya Mdimu’s strike broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, before Burundi fought back to equalized few minutes later but fell short on a 3-4 aggregate.
Tanzania will take on Ethiopia in all CECAFA fourth-round showdown for a place in the final stage.
MOLATsportgist 