President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has congratulated Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa following their qualification to the round of 16 of the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Falcons played a goalless draw against Ireland to finish second in Group B with five points behind co-hosts Australia, while Banyana Banyana also finished second behind Sweden in a group that had Italy and Argentina crashing out.
On Thursday, Morocco joined them in the round of 16 after beating Colombia 1-0 in their last group match at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.
It is the second win for the Moroccans at the Mundial, after they defeated Korea Republic 1-0 on match-day two.
The victory means it is the first time an African team will win two games at the Women’s World Cup since Nigeria’s Super Falcons achieved the feat in 1999 and also the first time that the continent will have three representatives in the knockout stage.
Following their successes, Motsepe has praised the teams while noting that their performance is a signal of development in African football.
“CAF and the 54 African nations that are members of CAF congratulates the Women’s Teams of Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa for their historic and well-deserved qualification to the Round of 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023,” Mostepe said.
“The Super Falcons, the Atlas Lionesses and Banyana Banyana have made the people of Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa, as well as the people of the rest of the African continent, very proud with their outstanding performances and hard-earned victories at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.
“The future of Women’s football on the African Continent is bright.
“The victories and successes of the Nigerian, Moroccan and South African women’s teams will contribute significantly to the development and growth of women’s football in Africa.
“CAF wishes the Nigerian, Moroccan and South African women’s football teams everything of the best for their upcoming matches.”
The Banyana will hope to lead the way and make it to the quarter-finals when they battle The Netherlands on Sunday, while Falcons battle England the following day.
Debutants Morocco have a tough date with 2019 hosts France on Tuesday.
