Field complete as Nigeria, Zambia pick Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event tickets 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

The two countries to represent the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the Paris 2014 Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament have booked their tickets to fly the continental flag in France later in the year as Nigeria and Zambia emerged from the final round of the African qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.

After 16 years hiatus, Nigeria secured Paris 2024 Olympics ticket following a hard fought goalless stalemate with South Africa on Tuesday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to qualify on 1-0 goal aggregate score courtesy of the lone goal defeat of South Africa last Friday at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

A 43rd minute penalty goal scored by Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade was enough for Nigeria to secure a victory over South Africa in the first leg of the double-header and the goal proved vital as the return leg tie in Pretoria on Tuesday ended in 0-0 draw and Nigeria qualified for the global sports showpiece in France.

Coming into the retun leg match in Pretoria 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.

Despite sending numbers forward, Desiree Ellis’ charges hardly troubled the Nigerian defence with just Thembi Kgatlana getting close in the 48th minute after being put through on goal but saw her attempt going wide off target.

Amogelang Motau could have sent the game to extra-time in the 85th minute after being set up by Kgatlana, but her strike was easily gathered by the keeper as the Super Falcons remained disciplined in defence to hold on to the result till the final whistle.

Nigeria will now compete in her fourth Olympics Women’s Football Tournament in the Paris 2024 edition after making  her last appearance in the 2008 edition in Beijing. The West African country made her debut in the Olympics Women’s Football Tournament in 2000 in Sydney and also qualified for the 2004 in Athens,  Greece.

Nigeria has been drawn  in tough Group C alongside World champions Spain, who will play at the Olympics for the first time; Japan and Brazil.

Elsewhere, the Zambian senior women’s football team nicknamed Copper Queens booked their place at the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event following a 2-0 win over the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco in the early hours of Wednesday at the Prince Moulay EL Hassan stadium to qualify on 3-2 aggregate.

Zambia came into the match needing an outright win after a 2-1 home loss at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola last Friday.

The Copper Queens started strong and put the hosts under pressure. Skipper Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the 38th minute after a brilliant ball over the top, using her place to beat a defender before going round Khadija to make it 1-0.

In the second half the hosts came back with purpose and Zambia needed Ng’ambo Petronella Musole in goal to make fantastic saves including a double save from point blank range.

The match went into extra time where Barbra Banda won a penalty, stepped up and finished off with ease in the 105 minute.

Zambia held on to win the match and qualify to the Olympics for the second time.

The  Women’s Olympic Football Tournament will run from July 24 to August 10 as part of the Paris 2024 Games.

Zambia are in group B alongside giants United States of America, Australia and Germany.