Harambee Starlets land tough AWCON draw

The national women’s football team were placed in a tough Pool B for next month’s African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) following Sunday night’s draw held in Accra.

Record champions Nigeria and South Africa, who have finished fourth in each of the last two editions, are the headline acts with Zambia completing the four-team group.

The Harambee Starlets start their campaign at the Ghanaian capital against Zambia’s Shepolopolo on November 18 before taking on South Africa’s Banyana Banyana three days later.

Hosts Ghana were placed in Group A with Cameroon, Algeria and Mali in Group A of the competition and begin their title quest against Algeria on November 17.

The top two finishers from Groups A and B will qualify for the AWCON semis with the eventual winner, runner-up and third-placed sides securing tickets for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

The tournament will be held across to Ghanaian cities with the capital Accra hosting Group A games while Cape Coast City, located in Southern Ghana will host Group B matches.

Kenya made a forgettable first appearance at the continental showpiece in 2016, exiting at the group stages after losing all their pool matches.