2023 Women’s World Cup Intercontinental Play-off : Cameroon Gets Tough Opponents

The draw for the intercontinental Play-off Tournament which will determine the final three qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was made on October 14, 2022 in Zurich. The 10 nations taking part in the tournament were pooled in three groups (A, B and C). The respective winners of paths A, B and C will complete the global finals.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were given a rocky path as they were pooled in Group A alongside Portugal and Thailand.  The latest FIFA world rankings were used to determine the top three seeded teams for the play-offs. Cameroon paid the price for failing to achieve seeded rank as they were paired with the highest-ranked sides. The Indomitable Lionesses who are seeking a third successive appearance at the Women’s World Cup, must first progress past a Thailand side who also appeared at the 2015 and 2019 editions. If they succeed to win Thailand, they will then play Portugal in the Group A final to determine the team that will qualify for the Women’s World Cup. Portugal will be a very hard knock to crack as the team is becoming increasingly competitive worldwide and is ranked 23rd contrary to Cameroon that is ranked 58th. Nigeria legend and four-time African player of the year Perpetua Nkwocha who helped conduct the draw along with Lira Alushi all admitted that a tough journey awaits the unseeded teams. Alushi said, “I’m sure we will see very interesting games, but for me, Group A is the stronge...