April 10 – Nigeria and Zambia have completed the line-up for the Olympic women’s tournament, claiming the last two tickets with playoff wins over South Africa and Morocco respectively.
In Pretoria, the Super Falcons held off Banyana Banyana in a goalless draw, enough to ensure a spot in the main draw following a 1-0 win in the first leg.
The Nigerians were Africa’s best team at the recent Women’s World Cup, reaching the last 16 where they pushed eventual finalists England all the way to penalties and in Paris in the first round they will once again represent a stern test as they face world champions Spain, 2011 champions Japan and Brazil in Group C. On July 25, they meet the South Americans in their curtain raiser.
Zambia will feature in back-to-back Olympic appearances after defeating Morocco over two legs. They required extra time to punch their ticket, but will be rewarded with first-round matches against powerhouses the United States, Germany and Australia in Group B. Star striker Barbara Banda got a brace in the 2-0 away win to turn a 2-1 first leg deficit into a 3-2 aggregate triumph against the Moroccans.
Banda was also a protagonist at the Tokyo Olympics where the Zambians garnered a single point. Following a spectacular 3-10 opening defeat, which saw a Banda hattrick, the team regrouped to draw 4-4 with China and lose by a single goal to Brazil. In France, they will get their campaign underway against the United States.
For the first time in Olympic history, the women’s final will wrap up the football tournament.
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