The 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament has reached the business end with only four teams left in the competition but only two spots available to book tickets to Paris.
South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Zambia stand at the gates of glory, and they are only two matches away from knowing whether they will be part of the 2024 Olympic Games spectacle or not.
Interestingly, these four sides represented the African continent at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand – but unfortunately, this time around, two will miss out at participating at the global women’s football showpiece.
Of the quartet, only the North Africans are yet to taste the Olympic spirit.
OLYMPIC GAMES PARTICIPATION:
- Nigeria: 2000 (Australia), 2004 (Greece), 2008 (Beijing)
- South Africa: 2012 (London), (2016 (Rio)
- Zambia: 2020 (Tokyo)
- Morocco: Yet to qualify
For the final lap, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have been pitted against the Super Falcons of Nigeria, while the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco will be hunting down the Copper Queens of Zambia.
The South Africans and the North Africans will be playing away in the first legs.
The whole world, Africa in particular, will have to wait for early April (between 1 -9) to know the identities of the two nations that will progress.
Nigeria is the highest ranked nation on the continent, followed by the second-place South Africa with Morocco in third place – Zambia is sixth.
FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND FIXTURES:
| Team 1 | Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | |||
| Zambia | v | Morocco | 1–9 Apr | 1–9 Apr | |||
| Nigeria | v | South Africa | 1–9 Apr | 1–9 Apr |
But where did it all start?
Fifty-three CAF members were eligible for competition but only 25 took part as many withdrew for various reasons.
For the FIRST ROUND played in July 2023, seven nations received a bye, only to join the others in the next phase.
| Qualifying Match Schedule | |
| Round | Dates |
| First round | 10–18 July 2023 |
| Second round | 23–31 October 2023 |
| Third round | 19–28 February 2024 |
| Fourth round | 1–9 April 2024 |
Things started heating up in the second round which took place in October last year.
Nigeria brushed aside Ethiopia, South Africa knocked out DR Congo, Morocco was merciless against Namibia while Zambia had it easy with a walk-over after Mali withdrew.
None of the 18 teams that played in the opening round of the qualifiers are still alive in the competition.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS:
| Team 1 | Agg. score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||
| NIGERIA | 5 – 1 | ETHIOPIA | 1 – 1 | 4 – 0 | ||
| SOUTH AFRICA | 3 – 1 | DR CONGO | 1 – 1 | 2 – 0 | ||
| MOROCCO | 4 – 0 | NAMIBIA | 0 – 2 | 2 – 0 | ||
| ZAMBIA | W/O | MALI | W/O | W/O |
The third round was even more unforgiving as most teams knew they were so near yet so far from the gates of glory.
Zambia did not have it easy against Ghana, who pushed them all the way, and it was the same scenario for Nigeria who had to dig deep to shake off Cameroon.
But Morocco and South Africa had no such problems, cruising into the final phase of competition where they will face stiff opposition.
THIRD ROUND RESULTS:
| Team 1 | Agg. score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||
| Ghana | 3–4 | Zambia | 0–1 | 3–3 | ||
| Tunisia | 2–6 | Morocco | 1–2 | 1–4 | ||
| Cameroon | 0–1 | Nigeria | 0–0 | 0–1 | ||
| Tanzania | 0–4 | South Africa | 0–3 | 0–1 |
As matter stand, Banyana Banyana’s Thembi Kgatlana leads the pack on the scoring charts with five goals in four matches.
She netted in every match, and even managed a brace against DR Congo.
The draw for the Olympic Football Tournaments Paris 2024 has been set for Wednesday, 20 March 2024.
The Games will be played from 24 July – 10 August in the French cities of Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Saint-Étienne and Lyon.
By Matlhomola Morake
