Nigeria and Morocco take first leg advantage in Women’s Football Olympic qualifiers
It’s the final round of Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifications as giants in women’s football on the continent engaged in the first leg of the qualifiers as two teams will proceed to represent Africa in Paris this year.
Four teams that made appearance at the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, namely Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia, entered into the last stage of the qualifiers
After the first leg, Nigeria and Morocco won respectively over South Africa and Zambia.
Record African Champions Nigeria won 1-0 courtesy Atletico Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade as she converted from the spot.
South African defender Noko Matlou was the culprit after Algerian referee Mehat Ghada punished her in the 43rd minute.
Morocco took a giant step of defeating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The Atlas Lionesses scored first through Zineb Redouane before the end of the first half.
Lushomo Mweemba equalized with a header from a free kick before Tottenham Hotspur’s Rosella Ayane scored the second goal in the 94th minute for Morocco to take the first leg advantage.
The second leg of the games will be held on April 9 as two among the four teams will match on represent Africa in the Summer Olympics in Paris.
A qualification for Morocco will mean both their men and women will be present in the football event of Paris 2014 Olympic Games in France.
