The
African Women's Championship is a biennial competition in
women's footballWomen's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
for national teams which belong to the
Confederation of African FootballThe Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
(CAF). Nine tournaments have been held, with the current champions being
NigeriaThe Nigeria national women's football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation...
. Nigeria have won all but one of the previous tournaments.
The competition has served as a qualifying tournament for the
FIFA Women's World CupThe FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
every other year since its inception in 1991. In 2006, the final round of the competition took place in
NigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
for the third time, replacing
GabonGabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, which was initially granted the right to host but later pulled out citing financial difficulties.
History
In 2000, hosts
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
met three-time champions
NigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in the final game of the tournament. After Nigeria finished the first half ahead 1-0, Nigeria's Stella Mbachu scored a second goal in the 72nd minute and the home crowd realized there was no coming back. Supporters began hurling bottles and other debris at officials and Nigerian players. The match was abandoned after three attempts at restarts were all interrupted by further disturbances. Riot police began fighting battles with bottle-throwing supporters about 40 minutes after the goal had been allowed, throwing tear gas into the crowd to break up the disturbance. The game and the tournament were awarded to Nigeria.
Results
| Year |
Host nation |
Final |
Third Place |
| Winner |
Score |
Second Place |
1991
DetailsThe 1991 Women's African Football Championship was the first staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's single qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1991 — the winner Nigeria....
|
home sites |
|
2 - 0
4 - 0 |
|
|
and |
|
1995
DetailsThe 1995 Women's African Football Championship was the second staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's single qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1995 — the winner Nigeria....
|
home sites |
|
4 - 1
7 - 1 |
|
|
and |
|
| Year |
Host nation |
Final |
Third Place Match |
| Winner |
Score |
Second Place |
Third Place |
Score |
Fourth Place |
1998
DetailsThe 1998 Women's African Football Championship was the third staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's two qualifiers for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 — the winner Nigeria and the runner-up Ghana...
|
 Nigeria |
|
2 - 0 |
|
|
3 - 3
(3 - 1)
penaltiesA penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
|
|
2000
DetailsThe 2000 Women's African Football Championship was the fourth staging of the CAF Women's Championship. The tournament took place in South Africa.-Group A:-------------------------Group B:----------------------------...
|
 South Africa |
|
2 - 0
(abd 73') |
|
|
6 - 3 |
|
2002
DetailsThe 2002 Women's African Football Championship was the fifth staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's two qualifiers for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 — the winner Nigeria and the runner-up Ghana...
|
Nigeria |
|
2 - 0 |
|
|
3 - 0 |
|
2004
DetailsThe 2004 Women's African Football Championship was held in South Africa between 18 September and 3 October 2004. The tournament was won by Nigeria.-Qualifying Tournament:...
|
South Africa |
|
5 - 0 |
|
|
0 - 0
(6 - 5)
penaltiesA penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
|
|
2006
DetailsThe 2006 Women's African Football Championship was originally scheduled to be held in Gabon, but due to "organisational reasons" Gabon withdrew from hosting the competition. Nigeria took over hosting rights, hosted the final tournament between October 28 and November 11, and won the tournament...
|
Nigeria |
|
1 - 0 |
|
|
2 - 2
(5 - 4)
penaltiesA penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
|
|
2008
DetailsThe 2008 Women's African Football Championship is of 15-29 November 2008 in Equatorial Guinea. The central African country is the first time host the tournament. Eight national teams played in group matches and then against each other.-Qualifying Tournament:...
|
 Equatorial Guinea |
|
2 - 1 |
|
|
1 - 1
(5 - 4)
penaltiesA penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
|
|
2010
Details |
South Africa |
|
4 - 2 |
|
|
2 - 0 |
|
2012
DetailsThe 2012 Women's African Football Championship will be a football competition, which is organized by the Confederation of African Football .-Qualification:...
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|
|
- |
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|
- |
|
Note: abd - match abandoned
Performance by nation
| # |
Nation |
Winners |
Runners-up |
Third Place |
Fourth Place |
Total |
| 1 |
|
8 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
| 2 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 3 |
|
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
| 4 |
|
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
| 5 |
|
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
| 6 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| - |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| - |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| - |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 10 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| - |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Total |
9 |
9 |
11 |
7 |
36 |
Tournament appearances
| Appearances | Nation |
| 9 |
|
| 5 |
|
| 3 |
|
| 2 |
|
| 1 |
|
Participating nations
| Team |
1991 The 1991 Women's African Football Championship was the first staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's single qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1991 — the winner Nigeria....
|
1995 The 1995 Women's African Football Championship was the second staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's single qualifier for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1995 — the winner Nigeria....
|
1998The 1998 Women's African Football Championship was the third staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's two qualifiers for the FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 — the winner Nigeria and the runner-up Ghana...
|
2000The 2000 Women's African Football Championship was the fourth staging of the CAF Women's Championship. The tournament took place in South Africa.-Group A:-------------------------Group B:----------------------------...
|
2002The 2002 Women's African Football Championship was the fifth staging of the CAF Women's Championship. It determined the CAF's two qualifiers for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 — the winner Nigeria and the runner-up Ghana...
|
2004The 2004 Women's African Football Championship was held in South Africa between 18 September and 3 October 2004. The tournament was won by Nigeria.-Qualifying Tournament:...
|
2006The 2006 Women's African Football Championship was originally scheduled to be held in Gabon, but due to "organisational reasons" Gabon withdrew from hosting the competition. Nigeria took over hosting rights, hosted the final tournament between October 28 and November 11, and won the tournament...
|
2008The 2008 Women's African Football Championship is of 15-29 November 2008 in Equatorial Guinea. The central African country is the first time host the tournament. Eight national teams played in group matches and then against each other.-Qualifying Tournament:...
|
2010 | Years |
|
|
|
|
GS |
GS |
|
GS |
3 |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2nd |
GS |
4th |
GS |
3rd |
2nd |
4th |
4th |
4th |
9 |
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS |
|
2 |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
|
GS |
|
|
2 |
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
GS |
1st |
2nd |
3 |
|
|
|
GS |
4th |
|
|
|
2 |
|
GS |
3rd |
2nd |
3rd |
2nd |
3rd |
2nd |
GS |
GS |
9 |
|
3rd |
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
GS |
GS |
GS |
GS |
GS |
5 |
|
|
GS |
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1st |
1st |
1st |
1st |
1st |
1st |
1st |
3rd |
1st |
9 |
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
2nd |
GS |
2nd |
4th |
GS |
3rd |
2nd |
3rd |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS |
1 |
|
|
GS |
|
1 |
|
|
|
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
3rd |
GS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
GS |
|
|
4th |
GS |
GS |
|
|
|
4 |
| Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Legend
- 1st – Champions
- 2nd – Runners-up
- 3rd – Third place
- 4th – Fourth place
- QF – Quarter Finals
- GS – Group stage
- q – Qualified
- — Hosts
Most championships won
| # | Wins | Nation | Year(s) |
| 1 |
8 times |
|
1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 |
| 2 |
1 time |
|
2008 |
Most tournaments hosted
| Hosts | Nation | Year(s) |
| 3 times |
|
1998, 2002, 2006 |
| 3 times |
|
2000, 2004, 2010 |
| 1 time |
|
2008 |
External links