• Cameroon qualify for second straight FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Friday’s 4-2 win over Mali secured their ticket to France 2019
• Les Lionnes join Nigeria and South Africa in claiming Africa’s three qualification places

Cameroon have claimed Africa’s third and final qualification place for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 after earning a 4-2 victory over Mali in their third-place match at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at Cape Coast, this evening.

It was Cameroon that got out to a two-goal advantage following a pair of goals from Ninon Abena. She gave Les Lionnes the lead just after the half-hour mark before registering her second of the match on 40 minutes.

Undeterred, Mali restored parity in Cape Coast. Fatoumata Diarra halved the deficit just before half-time, then an own goal by Cameroon’s Aurelle Awona drew Les Aiglonnes level on 56 minutes.

Cameroon raised their game, and struck, again, through Gabrielle Onguene in the 62nd minute, and kept the lead through regulation time.

During stoppage time, Christine Manie added her name to the score sheet, scoring a fourth goal to punch their ticket to the France 2019 world cup, just a few hours after her country was stripped of the 2019 AFCON hosting rights by CAF executives in Accra.

This will be Cameroon’s second straight appearance at a Women’s World Cup, having debuted on that stage at Canada 2015.

They join Nigeria and South Africa in claiming Africa’s three qualification spots for next year’s world finals.

On Saturday, Nigeria and South Africa will contest the final for the bragging rights at the Ghana 2018 AWCON championship, in the capital, Accra.

For the record, the South Africans disillusioned defending champions, Nigeria, with a 1-0 win in their opening group match at Cape Coast.

At a different venue – Accra – where South Africa lost a warm-up match 0-1 to hosts, Ghana, six days before the competition kicked off, could South Africa repeat the dose?

Would the different venue suit Nigeria?

Would it be a repeat outcome or vengeance?

Champions, some say, die hard. Would they? Would they even die?

Nigerians never die, contend some fanatics. Yet, the Queens from the South point to the earlier score line.

The lines are drawn! A battle royale awaits the world, tomorrow, at the refurbished Accra Sports Stadium.