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Paris 2024 Olympics Games

Ellis warns South Africa against complacency

Photo credit: CAFonline

Despite Bayana Bayana’s convincing first-leg victory over Tanzania

 

Photo credit: CAFonline

 

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has cautioned against the trap of falling into complacency in the return leg of the third round of the Paris 2024 Qualifiers against Tanzania.

 

The reigning CAF Women’s Coach of the Year and her charges had a successful trip to Tanzania on Friday, 23 February, where goals from the attacking trio of Jermaine Seopesenwe, Thembi Kgatlana, and Hildah Magaia secured a 3-0 away victory for the reigning African champions.

 

Banyana Banyana, who has featured twice at the Olympics (2012 and 2016), is looking to return to the global showpiece, which will have two spots reserved for Africa.

 

After the convincing victory, Ellis said she was happy with the result but believed her team could still play even better.

 

“I am thrilled with the result, but I also know that we can play way better. I think we can only get better from here onwards. The (domestic) league hasn’t started, so it was expected that we might struggle a bit and be rusty playing against a Tanzanian team with mostly local players. They’ve played ten league matches so far,” said Ellis.

 

While a three-goal advantage seems to be a pretty comfortable position ahead of the return leg, the former Banyana Banyana captain says the job must be finished at home, and there was no room for complacency.

 

“We have to finish the job back home. We don’t want to become complacent. The next goal in the match could change things, and we have to score the next goal, and once that is over, you know, then we’ll worry about who we’ll have to face, be it Nigeria or Cameroon. We still have a job to do. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves; we want to ensure we finish the job”, concluded Ellis.

 

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Paris 2024 Olympics Games

Olympics Qualifiers Fate: In just another day

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The final stretch to the global showpiece

 

CAFonline

 

South Africa – Nigeria: Advantage Super Falcons

 

A fixture that has grown into becoming an all-time African women’s football classic is on the cards yet again as South Africa prepares to welcome Nigeria to Pretoria for the return leg following a 1-0 loss to the Super Falcons in Abuja last week, CAFonline reports.

 

The Super Falcons are eyeing a fourth Olympic qualification. They will be banking on Randy Waldrum’s tactics to mastermind a good result away from home against the wounded African champions, who are gunning for their second Olympics appearance since 2016.

 

Morocco – Zambia: The Atlas Lionesses are in the driving seat

Morocco’s women’s national team made their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations debut in 2022, participated in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, and are now on the verge of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in their history.

 

A 2-1 win in Ndola has put the North Africans in the driving seat as they prepare to welcome the Copper Queens to Rabat, where a single goal from the star-studded Zambia squad could turn the match on its head.

 

Morocco may be in the driving seat, but it will take a lot to keep the Zambians from making their consecutive Olympics qualification despite being away from home.

 

Journey to the final round:

South Africa

2nd round

  • 10/25/23: DR Congo 1-1 South Africa
  • 10/30/23: South Africa 2-0 DR Congo

 

3rd round

  • 02/23/24: Tanzania 0-3 South Africa
  • 02/27/24: South Africa 1-0 Tanzania

 

4th round

  • 05/04/24: Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

 

Morocco

2nd round

  • 10/26/23: Namibia 2-0 Morocco
  • 10/31/23: Morocco 2-0 Namibia

 

3rd round

  • 02/23/24: Tunisia 1-2 Morocco
  • 02/28/24: Morocco 4-1 Tunisia

 

4th round

  • 04/05/24: Zambia 1-2 Morocco

 

Nigeria

2nd round

  • 10/25/23: Ethiopia 1-1 Nigeria
  • 10/31/23: Nigeria 4-0 Ethiopia

 

3rd round

  • 02/23/24: Cameroon 0-0 Nigeria
  • 02/26/24: Nigeria 1-0 Cameroon

 

4th round

  • 05/04/24: Nigeria 1-0 South Africa

 

Zambia

2nd round

  • 10/23/23: Mali – Zambia (Canceled)
  • 10/31/23: Zambia – Mali (Canceled)

 

3rd round

  • 02/23/24: Ghana 0-1 Zambia
  • 02/28/24: Zambia 3-3 Ghana

 

4th round

  • 04/05/24: Zambia 1-2 Morocco

 

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Paris 2024 Olympics Games

Super Falcons pip Bayana Bayana

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Nigeria women seize the initiative in the Olympic Games qualifier against South Africa

 

Nigeria surged ahead with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against South Africa in the first leg of the final qualification round for the women at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Abuja on Friday, CAFonline reports.
Rasheedat Ajibade was the heroine for the Super Falcons as her converted penalty sealed the victory for the home side in their final qualifier.
The Super Falcons asserted their dominance early in the match, with Ihezuo narrowly missing a scoring opportunity in the fifth minute after a precise pass from Echigini.
Thirteen minutes later, Ihezuo’s header from Okeke’s cross further threatened the Banyana Banyana defense, signaling the home side’s intent.
These near misses were a prelude to Nigeria’s breakthrough just before halftime.
A determined run by Chinwendu Ihezuo into the penalty area culminated in a foul, leading to the referee awarding a penalty in favor of Nigeria.
Ajibade stepped to the spot and calmly converted, granting the Super Falcons a crucial lead as halftime beckoned.
Banyana Banyana launched a spirited fightback after the break with Seoposenwe tested Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 56th minute, but her efforts were thwarted.
Nnadozie continued to showcase her prowess, making another crucial save four minutes later to maintain Nigeria’s advantage.
With the final whistle-blowing, Nigeria emerged triumphant with a slender 1-0 victory in the inaugural leg of the final qualifying round.
South Africa faces an uphill battle overturning the deficit during the return leg slated for April 9 in Pretoria.

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Paris 2024 Olympics Games

Atlas Lionesses takedown Copper Queens

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Morocco women edge closer to Olympic Games with away win in Zambia

 

 

Moroccan women’s national team edged closer to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following their dramatic 2-1 first-leg triumph against hosts Zambia in Ndola on Friday, CAFonline reports.
The Atlas Lionesses secured the important away victory in the game’s dying embers, with striker Rosella Ayane grabbing the winner in the 95th minute.
This triumph puts the Atlas Lionesses in a commanding position as they prepare for the return leg on home soil next Tuesday.
Under the astute guidance of coach Jorge Vilda, the Moroccan squad displayed exceptional resilience and skill to outmaneuver their Zambian counterparts led by Bruce Mwape.

 

Despite facing early pressure, they withstood a penalty scare in the 33rd minute, brilliantly thwarted by Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Rmichi, denying Prisca Chilufya’s attempt.
However, just before halftime, Morocco seized the initiative with a breathtaking goal by Zineb Redouani in the 45th minute from 30 yards plus, leaving Zambian goalkeeper Eunice Sakala helpless.
Upon resumption, the Moroccans faced relentless pressure from Zambia, eventually conceding an equalizer from Lushomo Mweemba in the 80th minute.

 

Yet, with the match seemingly destined for a stalemate, Ayane emerged as the hero, securing victory for Morocco in the game’s dying moments.
As Jorge Vilda’s squad prepares to return home, they will seek to replicate the form on Tuesday when they host Zambia in the return leg.

 

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