Mali defeated the Central African Republic 7-1 in the first leg of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers away from home.
The West Africans are the Copper Queens opponents in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
The Lady Eagles thrashed their opponents and took a commanding lead in the second leg thanks to a hat-trick from Agueicha Diarra, a brace from Aichata Traore, goals from Fatoumata Diarra and Oumou Kone, and a goal from each of them.
Meanwhile, the Copper Queens will play Angola in the WAFCON qualifying matches. The first leg is scheduled for November 27, while the return match is set for December 5.
The winner in that tie will automatically qualify for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Copper Queens on Friday also defeated the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco 2–0, thanks to a brace from Barbra Banda.
The friendly matches are being used by Bruce Mwape’s team as practice for their COSAFA Cup title defense, which will take place in Gauteng, South Africa, between October 4 and October 18.
READ ALSO: Barbra Banda nets brace to help Copper Queens beat Morocco in friendly
Zambia and Mali will square off this October in a two-legged tie in the race for the 2024 Paris Olympic qualification.
Full-time Results (WAFCON Qualifiers, First Round)
Burundi 1-1 Ethiopia
Gabon 1-4 Botswana
DR Congo 2-1 Benin
Central African Republic 1-7 Mali
Tunisia 7-0 Niger
Djibouti 0-7 Togo
Cote D’Ivoire 2-0 Tanzania
Senegal 1-1 Mozambique
Cape Verde 3-0 Liberia
Cameroon 1-0 Kenya.
