The 2002 African Women's Championship qualification process was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2002 African Women's Championship. Nigeria qualified automatically as both hosts and defending champions, while the remaining seven spots were determined by the qualifying rounds, which took place from August to October 2002.

Teams A record 21 national teams participated in the qualifying process.

Teams who withdrew are in italics.

RoundTeams entering roundNo. of teamsFirst round14Second round7Qualifying roundsTotal21Final tournament (hosts and defending champions)1

Format Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still level, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (no extra time would be played).

The seven winners of the final round qualified for the final tournament.

Schedule The schedule of the qualifying rounds was as follows.

RoundLegDateFirst roundFirst leg10–11 August 2002Second leg24 August 2002Second roundFirst leg21–22 September 2002Second leg11–13 October 2002

First round

1 Botswana, Guinea-Bissau and Swaziland withdrew.

Zambia won by default and advanced to the second round.

Ethiopia won by default and advanced to the second round.

Tanzania won 5–4 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

Angola won 6–1 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

Gabon won 8–0 on aggregate and advanced to the second round.

Senegal won by default and advanced to the second round.

4–4 on aggregate. Mali won on the away goals rule and advanced to the second round.

Second round

South Africa won 8–1 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Ethiopia won 4–2 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Zimbabwe won 10–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

1–1 on aggregate. Angola won the penalty shoot-out 5–4 and qualified for the final tournament.

Cameroon won 4–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Ghana won 6–1 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

0–0 on aggregate. Mali won the penalty shoot-out 5–4 and qualified for the final tournament.

Goalscorers Angolan Jacinta Ramos, Gabonese Géraldine Okawe, South African Joanne Solomon and Zimbabwean Nomsa Moyo were the top scorers in the qualifying process. In total, 70 goals were scored by 44 different players. 4 goals

Jacinta Ramos Géraldine Okawe Joanne Solomon Nomsa Moyo

3 goals

Rachel Bancouly Esther Zulu

2 goals

Nadine Mvunbio Awasso Endegene-Leme Ornella Etoua Basilea Amoah-Tetteh Joyce Ohenewaa Maïchata Konaté Diaty N'Diaye Veronica Phewa Ester Chambruma Precious Mpala

1 goal

Sonia de Souza Antoinette Anounga Rolande Belemgoto Cecile Mekongo Etebe Mvie Manga Louyeye Binga Genoveva Añonman Semhar Bereket-ab Teamu Debessay Makda Mebrahtu Merhawit Tekeste Feleke Adois Tesfaye Teramah Winie Mapangou Gladys Nisame Memuna Darku Sheila Okah Adélaïde Koudougnon Absah Gueye Nandipha Mlomo Mapule Nteso Mwaka Kavena Ally Mosi Sweet Paul Oliver Mbekeka Annet Nankimbugwe Christabel Muchindu Pretty Phiri

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Qualified onPrevious appearances in tournament1 Hosts and defending champions 19 March 2002 4 (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000) Winners against DR Congo 11 October 2002 1 (1995) Winners against Morocco 11 October 2002 Debut Winners against Zambia 12 October 2002 3 (1995, 1998, 2000) Winners against Gabon 12 October 2002 3 (1991, 1998, 2000) Winners against Senegal 12 October 2002 4 (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000) Winners against Uganda 13 October 2002 Debut Winners against Tanzania 13 October 2002 1 (2000) 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

References