Cameroon and Mali did not qualify for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on the pitch.
The tournament’s expansion gave them a second opportunity. Their opening match may reveal which team is better prepared to take advantage of it.
The two sides meet on Wednesday 29 July at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. The match begins at 21:00 in Morocco and 22:00 in Spain, closing the opening round of Group D.
Ghana begin as favourites. Cameroon and Mali appear to be the main candidates for second place, meaning their direct meeting leaves little room for a slow start.
Both reached Morocco after being eliminated in the final qualifying round.
Algeria defeated Cameroon 3-1 on aggregate. Mali won the first leg against Cape Verde 1-0, but lost the return match 4-2 and were eliminated 4-3 overall.
CAF later expanded the competition from twelve to sixteen teams and restored the four highest-ranked eliminated sides: Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast and Egypt.
Cameroon return after missing the previous edition. The Indomitable Lionesses have reached three finals and were for years one of the few teams capable of challenging Nigeria’s dominance, but they now begin a different stage.
Valentine Nguele was appointed head coach on 13 June. She has had little more than six weeks to organise a squad that brings together several generations.
Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné represents the experience. Should she feature, she will play in her eighth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and set a new competition record. Naomi Eto, 21, represents the renewal of a side that must rebuild without abandoning the need to compete immediately.
Mali arrive with greater recent continuity.
They defeated Tanzania, drew with Ghana and reached the quarter-finals of the previous Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated by Morocco. The team still includes Aïssata Traoré and Agueissa Diarra, two forwards capable of changing a match even when Mali do not control possession.
Their preparations, however, ended with a 1-0 defeat against Ivory Coast. Mali improved after the break but once again struggled to turn their pressure into goals.
The schedule increases the importance of the opening match.
Cameroon face Ghana in the second round. Mali will meet the Cape Verde side that eliminated them. Defeat would force either team to search for points under considerable pressure.
Cameroon possess the greater historical weight. Mali competed more convincingly in the previous edition.
Both were given an opportunity they had already lost.
Only one can begin by taking it.
Cameroon v Mali
Wednesday 29 July · 22:00 in Spain
Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca