The 2004 African Women's Championship qualification process was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2004 African Women's Championship. South Africa qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining seven spots were determined by the qualifying rounds, which took place from May to July 2004.

From this tournament onwards, the defending champions does not receive automatic qualification.

Teams A total of 17 national teams participated in the qualifying process.

Teams who withdrew are in italics.

RoundTeams entering roundNo. of teamsPreliminary round6First round11Qualifying roundsTotal17Final tournament (hosts)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.

RoundLegDatePreliminary roundFirst leg29–30 May 2004Second leg12 June 2004First roundFirst leg10–11 July 2004Second leg23–25 July 2004

Preliminary round

1 Uganda withdrew.

Congo won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the first round.

Malawi won by default and advanced to the first round.

Tanzania won 5–1 on aggregate and advanced to the first round.

First round

Cameroon won 2–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Ethiopia won 9–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Zimbabwe won 7–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Algeria won 3–2 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Ghana won 22–0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

1 The match was abandoned at the 76th minute after an officer from the riot police mistakenly fired tear gas which dispersed fans rushing to find an open space.

Nigeria won 12–3 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.

Originally, DR Congo qualified for the final tournament after Gabon withdrew. DR Congo subsequently withdrew, meaning CAF were required to select a lucky loser to qualify for the final tournament.

Team201123−11201102−21200207−702002312−90200209−902002022−220

Mali, as the lucky loser, thus qualified for the final tournament.

Goalscorers Akua Anokyewaa and Adjoa Bayor, both from Ghana, were the top scorers of the qualifying process with 6 goals each. 6 goals

Akua Anokyewaa Adjoa Bayor

5 goals

Florence Okoe Cynthia Uwak

4 goals

Birtukan Gebrekirstos Patience Avre Nomsa Moyo

3 goals

Feleke Addis Mwapewa Mtumwa

2 goals

Dalila Zerrouki Carmen Aguilera Angono Anita Amenuku

1 goal

Naïma Bouhenni Séraphine Mbida Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbouk Ndiaye Mpassou Saya Ndolou Semira Kemal Helen Seifu Elizabeth Baidu Memuna Darku Gloria Foriwaa Fatou Camara Diaty N'Diaye Ijeoma Obi Melkuleyi Titilayo Jerome Ulunma Awa Diop Mamy N'Diaye Bathe Thiaw Mwanaidi Yusuf Sharon Kulunga Sithandekile Mathobela Margaret Simao

Unknown goalscorers : 2 additional goals : 1 additional goal : 1 additional goal

Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Qualified onPrevious appearances in tournament1 Hosts 12 December 2003 4 (1995, 1998, 2000, 2002) Winners against Mali 23 July 2004 Debut Winners against Guinea 24 July 2004 5 (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002) Winners against Senegal 24 July 2004 5 (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002) Winners against Congo 25 July 2004 4 (1991, 1998, 2000, 2002) Winners against Malawi 25 July 2004 1 (2002) Winners against Tanzania 25 July 2004 2 (2000, 2002) Lucky loser July–August 2004 1 (2002) 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

References