WAFCON D-16: Meriem Houij, the Tunisian arrow

The countdown continues as the CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 draws near. To mark the occasion, CAFOnline.com is revisiting some of the defining moments that have shaped this iconic competition, whose 13th edition already promises to be full of excitement. Today, the spotlight is on a lightning-fast feat: the fastest goal in the history of the tournament, courtesy of Mariem Houij.

Only 16 days to go until the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

It took only 17 seconds for Mariem Houij to make history at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. On July 3, 2022, in Casablanca, the Tunisian striker struck like lightning against Togo. First touch, first sprint, first goal. The stopwatch froze: 0'17. An all-time record.

“I barely had time to breathe,” she smiled after the match. “It all happened so fast—I knew exactly what I wanted to do from the kickoff.”

This goal, the fastest in the history of the Women's AFCON, perfectly sums up the style of the Galatasaray player: explosiveness, initiative and composure in front of goal. 

On a through ball from the kick-off, Houij outran the Togolese defence, cleared the goalkeeper and pushed the ball into the back of the net. 

This moment is all the more powerful as it accompanies the first victory of the Eagles of Carthage in the final phase of the Women's AFCON (4-1), a symbolic step in the progression of an ambitious team.

Two years later, Tunisia is back for the 2024 AFCON in Morocco, with Meriem Houij still spearheading. "It will remain engraved. But this is only the beginning. Tunisian women's football deserves to go higher," she said.

As the tournament approaches, the number 9 remains one of the strong faces of a team in search of recognition. And with Houij, everything can go very quickly. Very quickly.