2024 Olympic Games: Zambia, Nigeria women qualify for Paris Olympic Games
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - Zambian and Nigerian women football teams have secured their tickets to participate in the 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament after eliminating Morocco and South Africa respectively after their final second-leg qualifying matches.
The Copper Queens of Zambia went through to their second consecutive Olympics Games after doing the unthinkable in reversing a 2-1 home defeat to a 2-0 win over Morocco.
A brace by the Copper Queens skipper, Barbra Banda, who shone at the previous edition of the global showpiece, ensured that Zambia went through after a nervy start.
Banda gave the Zambians the lead just before the break in the 40th minute which sprung hope into the visitors against a highly spirited Morocco side.
Zambia sent more numbers forward and pinned the Moroccans into their own half who eventually made a mistake through a hand-ball by Najat Badri for the referee to point to the penalty spot.
It was again the skipper who stepped up to find the second which was the goal that sent the Zambians to their second Olympics tournament in succession.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will compete in their fourth Olympics Women’s football tournament in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after securing their ticket following a 0-0 draw against South Africa in Pretoria.
The goalless stalemate was enough for the Super Falcons to secure passage after last making an appearance in the 2008 edition in Beijing.
Coming into the tie with a 1-0 cushion from the first-leg in Abuja, the 11-time African champions needed just a a draw to secure a place in Paris and did just enough to frustrate the current African champions who failed to break their resolute defence.
-0- PANA MA 11April2024
