By Beng Emmanuel Kum

The draw for the first-ever 12 team Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be held this year in Morocco was made in Rabat on Friday with some enthralling matchups.

South Africa will be aiming to avenge their 2018 defeat to three-time defending champions Nigeria after both teams were drawn in group C alongside debutants Botswana and Burundi.

The South Africa vs Nigeria fixture is a repeat of the 2018 final in Ghana where the Banyana Banyana missed the chance to win the converted trophy after losing on penalties to the Super Falcons.

Cameroon on their part will face Zambia, Tunisia and Togo in group B of the women’s football tournament.

The Indomitable Lionesses are aiming to win their maiden continental title. They have been the losing finalists on four occasions in 1991, 2004, 2014 and 2016 when they hosted.

Host Morocco will kick off the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso on July 2 at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay-Abdellah with the final set for the 23^rd. Senegal and Uganda complete group A.

This year’s tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup finals and two other teams will advance to a ten team inter-confederation play-offs that will decide the three final spots.

Complete Draw:

Group A: Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Uganda

Group B: Cameroon, Zambia, Tunisia, Togo

Group C: Nigeria, South Africa, Burundi, Botswana