The 2002 African Women's Championship was the 5th edition of the biennial African women's association football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football. It took place in Nigeria between 7 and 20 December 2002. This edition of the tournament also doubled as the African qualification for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. Nigeria beat Ghana 2–0 in the final to with their 5th title, although both were guaranteed qualification to that international tournament edition held in the United States.

Host selection

On 24 January 2001, the Botswana Football Association announced the submission of a hosting bid, but it was neither considered nor came to fruition by CAF. CAF approached Nigeria at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali for that tournament edition's hosting rights and got it on 19 March that year. Nigeria previously had the honor of hosting the tournament when it began full-scale in 1998.

Qualification

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.

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.

Qualified teams

Ethiopia and Mali made their first appearances in the tournament.

[{{legend|#0000ff|Qualified}} {{legend|#ff0000|Did not qualify}} {{legend|#000000|Did not enter or withdrew}} {{legend|#cccccc|Not part of CAF|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/2002///African///Womens///Football///Championship///qualification.png]

Officials

The following referees were named for the tournament:

Format

The eight teams were divided into two groups of four teams, where the top two teams in each group advanced to the semi-finals. The finalists of this edition of the tournament qualified for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States. The teams were ranked according to the three points for a win standard.

Group stage

Tiebreakers

If two or more teams in the group stage are tied on points tie-breakers are in order:

Group A

Group B

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time is played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner, except for the third place match where no extra time is played.

Bracket

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Semi-finals

Winners qualified for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Third place play-off

Final

The match was held up for about 5 minutes after fans pelted a lineswoman with sachets of water after Alberta Sackey had not been given offside (but missed the chance anyway).

Awards

Statistics

Team statistics

[{{legend|#2b42a3|Champion}} {{legend|#34c0be|Runner-up}} {{legend|#269c5a|Third place}} {{legend|#81c846|Fourth place}} {{legend|#b94954|Group stage|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/2002///African///Womens///Football///Championship///Results.png]

Goalscorers

Qualified teams for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

The teams below qualified to represent Africa at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States.