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.
A total of 17 national teams participated in the qualifying process.
Teams who withdrew are in italics.
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.
The schedule of the qualifying rounds was as follows.
Congo won 4âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the first round.
Malawi won by default and advanced to the first round.
Tanzania won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the first round.
Cameroon won 2âÂÂ0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.
Ethiopia won 9âÂÂ0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.
Zimbabwe won 7âÂÂ0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.
Algeria won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.
Ghana won 22âÂÂ0 on aggregate and qualified for the final tournament.
<sup>1</sup> <small>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. </small>
Nigeria won 12âÂÂ3 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.
Mali, as the lucky loser, thus qualified for the final tournament.
Akua Anokyewaa and Adjoa Bayor, both from Ghana, were the top scorers of the qualifying process with 6 goals each.
The following teams qualified for the final tournament.