Paris 2024: Nigeria and Zambia Women Secure Positions for the Olympics
On Tuesday, the Super Falcons and Zambia secured their spots for the Olympic games in Paris. For the first time since 2008, Nigeria will be participating in the Olympics.
"Now my plea and challenge is to the Minister of Sport and to the federation - to help us prepare properly," stated super Falcon boss, Randy Waldrum.
With a scoreless draw away in Pretoria against South Africa, the West Africans advanced 1-0 on aggregate, with the game-winning goal coming from Rasheedat Ajibade.
In Group C, the Super Falcons will be up against Brazil, Japan, and the current World Cup champions, Spain.
"We need a camp in Europe to prepare for the group that we have - we need proper training, we need proper transportation," Waldrum added.
"We need to do things right because these women deserve this opportunity to represent our country of Nigeria in the best possible way."
On their fourth Olympic appearance, eleven-time regional champions Nigeria will be looking to improve upon their 2004 quarterfinal exit.
This past year, the Super Falcons made it to the Women's World Cup semifinals before falling in a penalty shootout to eventual runners-up England.
"With this field being small in the Olympics, every team is a top team," Waldrum noted.
"And if you look at our group, again - like the World Cup - it's the group of death, so to speak.
"Sixteen years without qualifying is a long time and I am extremely proud of the girls. There is work to be done when it comes to our attack, and we will improve before heading to France."
At the same time, Zambia qualified for the Olympics for the second year in a row after overcoming a 1-0 deficit in Morocco in the first leg.
The match at Rabat's Moulay Hassan Stadium went to overtime after skipper Barbra Banda equalized in the 38th minute, despite being down 2-1 on aggregate.
In the 105th minute, the striker for the Orlando Pride scored the game-winning penalty kick, giving the Copper Queens a 3-2 victory.
At the Paris Olympics, the Zambians will face stiff competition in Group B from the likes of four-time winners Germany, World Cup semi-finalists Australia, and four-time Olympic champions the United States.
Despite Banda becoming the first woman to achieve consecutive hat tricks at a single Olympics, Zambia was eliminated in the group round at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The women's football competition at the 2024 Olympic Games will start on July 25, the day before the opening ceremony in Paris, and end on August 10.