The draw took place in CAF Headquarters in Cairo, EGYPT and The Gambia will open its contest away to Burkina in Ouagadougou by the 26th February to 6th March in the first round before the overall winner will face off Nigeria in the second and final round of the qualifiers in April.
Nigeria has been joined by Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa with a bye and will only be squared off in the final berth by outright winners in Round One.
The 2018 edition of the tournament will be held in Ghana from November 17 to December 1st and doubles as the qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in France.
The Gambia has been anticipating keenly for the start of the qualifiers when the Football Federation preparing the national team in a regular local training which culminated in a friendly international at home to Guinea Bissau in September. The Queen Scorpions ended their debut with a two goal cushion with Adama Tamba and Isatou Jallow for the home side heralding their intent to resurface at the world stage after a long absence at international scene coming from a heavy 5-1 win over Cassa Sport in another friendly international in Jarra Soma in 2016.
Meanwhile the Female U-17 National Team is also winding up technical preps ahead of their away leg to Sierra Leone by the 14th October for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup preliminary qualifier. Steve Biko Coach Abdoulie Bojang is heading the team as Head Coach assisted by Haddy Sanneh of Red Scorpions FC.