The much-anticipated first leg third round fixtures of the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers came and went with varying results in the four matches played on Friday, 23 February 2024.
A lot was riding on these games as all eight teams came into this phase with one mission – to stamp their authority in the first leg and stand a better chance of progressing to the ultimate phase – the fourth and final round.
Only two will represent the African continent at the Olympic Games in Paris which will be held between 24 July and 10 August this year.
Before we check the results of the first leg, there are several factors which were at play even before the first ball was kicked.
- Tunisia, Tanzania and Morocco had a chance to become the first CECAFA/UNAF teams to reach the final round
- After being knocked out in this phase in the last two qualifiers, the Super Falcons of Nigeria were looking to get the monkey off their back (eliminated by Equatorial Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 qualifiers respectively)
- South Africa and Zambia were eager to continue COSAFA’s dominance of having a representative in every Olympic Games since 2012 (Banyana Banyana- London 2012; Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe – Rio 2016; Zambia – Tokyo 2020)
- Ghana were eyeing a fourth round ticket for the first time since 2008
At the end of day, results did not go according to plan for some of the teams – with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, barring a serious mishap, the only side almost guaranteed a place in the next round, while other three matches will go down the wire.
TANZANIA 0 – 3 SOUTH AFRICA
At the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Desiree Ellis’ charges brushed aside the host country in a not-so-polished but business-like performance, netting three goals without any reply from the East Africans.
The Mexico-based trio of Jermaine Seoposenwe (10’), Thembi Kgatlana (57’) and Hilda Magaia (86’) did the damage, helping South Africa place one foot into the next round.
The two teams meet again on Tuesday, 27 February at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga at 19h30.
Cameroon 0 – 0 Nigeria:
Lying in wait for either Banyana Banyana or Tanzania in the final round is the winner between Cameroon and Nigeria who cancelled each other out with a goalless stalemate at Stade de la Reunification in Doula, Cameroon.
The two nations will lock horns again on Monday, 26 February 2024 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria. Kickoff is at 16h00.
(If the cumulative scores are even after the second leg regulation time ends, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the score is still level after extra time, then kicks from the penalty spot will be used to determine the winner.)
Ghana 0 – 1 Zambia
Zambia shrugged off the heart-break of losing one of their players, Norin Betan, to register a hard-fought 1-0 win over Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana. Betani, the Indeni Roses and Copper Queens striker, passed away in Lusaka two days before the visitors took to the field in this crucial match – she was part of the squad that was called up for this fixture.
Racheal Kundananji’s goal in the 18th minute was enough to give her side the advantage and set up a potentially mouth-watering duel in the second leg scheduled for Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia at 18h00.
TUNISIA 1 – 2 MOROCCO:
Morocco put themselves in the driving seat with a slender 2-1 win in the North African against Tunisia 2-1 at the Stade Municipal de Soliman away in Tunisia.
Midfielder Fatima Zahra Tagnaout opened the scoring a minute before the break from a well-taken freekick, but the lead was cancelled in the 51st minutes – Ella Kaabachi responding with a goal, also from a dead-ball situation.
The celebrations had hardly died down when forward Ghizlane Chebbak restored her side’s lead in the 54th minute to hand Morocco the upper hand ahead of the reverse fixture on Wednesday, 28 February 2028 at the Prince Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The winner between Morocco and Tunisia will face off against the victors in the Ghana/Zambia clash for a ticket to Paris.
By Matlhomola Morake
