Paris 2024: Nigeria and Zambia to represent Africa at Olympic Games

Nigeria and Zambia have booked their slots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to be staged in France later this year.

The Super Falcons won 1-0 on aggregate against South Africa to secure their ticket for the competition. Nigeria recorded a 1-0 win in Abuja last week before holding out for a 0-0 draw in Pretoria.

Nigeria will compete in their fifth Olympics women’s football tournament and return to the stage after failing to qualify in 2012, 2016 and 2020.

The Super Falcons will compete in Group C at the Olympics against world champions Spain, as well as past world champions Japan and Brazil. On July 25, they will meet the South Americans in Bordeaux for the tournament opener.

Zambia, on the other hand, overturned a first-leg deficit to book a place ahead of Morocco.

The Copper Queens lost 2-1 at home against the Atlas Lionesses last weekend.

However, they sealed a 2-0 win in the second leg to achieve a 3-2 aggregate score.

Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda scored the opener for Zambia in the 38th minute and sealed her Olympic qualification with a penalty in the 105th minute.

Zambia will compete in a challenging Group B in France, with past champions the United States and Germany, as well as World Cup semi-finalists Australia. They will launch their campaign against the USWNT on July 25 in Nice.