Africa made history at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup when the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco joined the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the second round. Morocco’s qualification created despair and disbelief for Germany as they were knocked out from the group stage for the first time.
In what turned out to be a remarkable debut for the girls from North Africa, they qualified from a group where they had an outside chance of sailing through. The Moroccans were run rugged by Germany 6-0 in their first-ever World Cup match in Melbourne. However, they bounced back from the defeat with a 1-0 victory again South Korea. Against all odds, the Atlas Lionesses stunned Colombia 1-0 in their last group match to qualify from the group.
The Banyana Banyana of South Africa’s 3-2 win against Italy was their first time winning a match at the World Cup and it sealed their qualification into the knockout stage for the first time. The South Africans made their debut four years ago in France, losing all three matches.
Africa’s powerhouse, Nigeria’s Super Falcons had qualified from the hugely regarded group of death which paved the way for other African countries to fight hard and also made it into the knockout stage.
The coach Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons will face one of the tournament’s favorites, England on Monday. Debutants, The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco confront France while the Banyana Banyana of South Africa will lock horns against the Netherlands.
Ikenna Okafor
