The final stretch to the global showpiece
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
