Nigeria have been confirmed as the hosts of this year's African Women's Championship.

The announcement gets the Confederation of African Football out of a tight spot - initially there were no serious takers for the third bi-annual tournament.

It means Nigeria will have hosted the first and third editions of the event, with South Africa holding the last championship was in November 2000.

No firm dates have yet been set for the event, but Caf said it would be around November or December.

It is also not yet clear whether the tournament will act as the African qualifiers for next year's women's World Cup in China.

Falcons undefeated

Nigerian officials were approached by Caf at the recent Nations Cup finals in Mali and were keen to again host the tournament, played in 1998 in Abeotuka.

Nigeria have won both previous editions of the tournament and are unbeaten in African competition, including in World Cup qualifiers.

The Super Falcons will qualify automatically as both hosts and holders for the eight-team championship, with the other places to be filled up from a record 21 entries for the 2002 event.

The first round of qualifiers will be played in August and the second round in September and October.

Qualifying:

1st round
Zambia v Botswana
Ethiopia v Swaziland
Eritrea v Tanzania
Angola v Equatorial Guinea
Sao Tome e Principe v Gabon
Senegal v Guinea Bissau
Cote d'Ivoire v Mali

1st leg: 9-11 August
2nd leg: 23-25 August

2nd round:
Zambia or Botswana v South Africa
Ethiopia or Swaziland v Uganda
Eritrea or Tanzania v Zimbabwe
Angola or Equ. Guinea v DR Congo
S. Tome e Principe or Gabon v Cameroon
Senegal or Guinea Bissau v Ghana
Cote d'Ivoire or Mali v Morocco

1st leg: 20-22 September
2nd leg: 11-13 October