Fixtures Fire Up the Continent
Action kicked off with a bang when Ivory Coast demolished Mauritania 8-0 on 9 April at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe. Les Éléphantes delivered a commanding performance that sent shockwaves across the continent.
Botswana secured a resilient 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia on 10 April. Laone Moloi opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Seba Tawfiq equalized deep into stoppage time (90+7′).
Today sees Tunisia tackle Benin, while Morocco host Tanzania tomorrow in what promises to be a standout clash. The Atlas Lionesses eye continental dominance as Tanzania push to make their mark.
South Africa meet Algeria on 14 April in a highly anticipated encounter. Banyana Banyana bring their trademark pace while Algeria counter with tactical structure. The teams rematch on 17 April, promising fireworks.
Additional fixtures include Egypt facing Saudi Arabia, Benin taking on Comoros, Tunisia hitting Comoros on 16 April, Morocco battling Ghana on 17 April, and Egypt wrapping up against Saudi Arabia on 19 April.
Global Tests Raise the Stakes
The FIFA Series delivers valuable lessons for African teams. Kenya stunned India 2-0 in Nairobi with Mercy Emedot (2′) and Terry Obunya (55′) providing the goals. Meanwhile, Australia crushed Malawi 5-0 with Sam Kerr netting in the 41st minute.
Zambia faced a tough test against Canada, falling 4-0 in Brazil with Nicole Prince bagging a brace. The Copper Queens face Brazil on 15 April before meeting South Korea on 18 April, gaining crucial elite exposure.
Other African teams continue their preparations with Ivory Coast hosting Turks and Caicos, DR Congo meeting Indonesia, and Mauritania taking on Pakistan.
Context Fuels the Fire
Banyana Banyana welcome the WAFCON 2026 postponement, with defender Mbane stating it provides crucial additional preparation time.
The Super Falcons face internal drama as captain Rasheedat Ajibade criticized the NFF for poor preparations. With no friendlies scheduled this window after Cape Verde withdrew, the nine-time champions feel the pressure mounting ahead of their title defense in Morocco.
Morocco’s Lionesses ride high on recent success, while South Africa crave redemption after Olympic heartbreak.
Eyes on the Horizon
Coaches are fine-tuning tactics as squads gel and strategies evolve. With WAFCON 2026 approaching later this year, Africa’s queens prepare for the ultimate battle for continental supremacy. Expect surprises as new heroes emerge on the biggest stage.
