2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup : Africa’s Knock Out Syndrome Again

The four African representatives at the 2023 Women’s World Cup ongoing in New Zealand and Australia have been booted out. The journey ended for Zambia in the group phase while Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco succeeded to reach the eighth finals. Never before has Africa had so many teams advance from the group stage at the Women’s World Cup. But this feat could be contextualised to the tournament’s recent expansion to include more teams. Nigeria became the first African side to reach the knock-out stage in 1999. The team progressed directly to quarterfinals because the competition fielded just sixteen teams with the best two teams in each of the four groups directly progressing to the quarterfinals. Nigeria’s journey unfortunately ended at this stage as they failed to win their first knock out match. Cameroon matched the record of reaching the knock out stage 16 years later in Canada.  At France 2019, both nations made the last 16, the continent’s previous best.  This 2023 edition saw three African sides progress to the knock out round but were all booted out again at this stage. Women’s Football Trainer, Hassan Balla Ibrahim takes stock of Africa’s performance, analyses why the African teams have been unable to win any knock out match, and proposes solutions.

What appraisal do you make of the performance of African teams at the 2023 Women's World Cup?
Africa fielded four teams; Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia. I believed in these teams and I told myself that this time would be a good one. But unfortunately, once more we could not win any knock out match. I think this time, we had the opportunity to win a knock out match and qualify for the quarterfinals. Nigeria showed good signs right from the group phase. In the round of 16, they met England. England were favorites but Nigeria gave them a tough time. With England down to 10, Nigeria had their chances to win but it did not happen. Morocco had tough challenge at the eighth finals. France is a tough side. I greatly appreciate the performance of Morocco especially as they are at their first participation. They conceded a lot of goals, but I see a lot of continuity and a bright future for the team.  South Africa showed positive signals in play but lacked a little concentration just like Zambia. Athletically we are good but we missed it tactically.

Since the inception of the World Cup, no African team has succeeded to win a knock out match. What according to you explains this?
We have serious problems with tactics. All these boils down to preparation. We do not give more time to trainings. The Wo...