2024 Olympics final round: Morocco take a good result in Zambia, Nigeria win at home

Morocco have given themselves a good chance of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Atlas Lionesses beat Zambia 2-1 in Lusaka on Friday 5 April, in the 4th and final round of qualifying for the Olympic women's football tournament. Morocco took the lead late in the first half through Zineb Redouani (45+1). Lushomo Mweemba levelled for Zambia in the 80th minute. But Rosella Ayane struck late on to break Copper Queens hearts (90+1). Morocco therefore make a good start to the tie ahead of the second leg on 9 April in Rabat. Morocco are aiming to reach the Olympics for the first time.

نهاية مباراة الذهاب بفوز المنتخب الوطني النسوي على زامبيا 👏🏻

Full time ! 🇿🇲1-2🇲🇦
The first leg ended with a win ✅
Catching up on Tuesday for the second one #DimaMaghrib #OneGameOneFamily pic.twitter.com/rlI9zYCAJt

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) April 5, 2024

Nigeria do the bare minimum at home

Nigeria also won. The Super Falcons did what was needed at home in the first leg of the final qualifying round for the Paris Olympic women's football tournament. Facing South Africa, the reigning African champions, they won by the narrowest of margins, thanks in particular to a penalty converted by Rasheedat Ajibade. Nigeria were awarded a penalty late in the first half after Chiwendu Ihezuo was fouled in the box. Ajibade thus gives her side a slender lead going into the second leg on 9 April in Johannesburg.

It is also the Super Falcons' first win over South Africa since the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations final. Nigeria's last appearance at the Olympics was in 2008 in Beijing. The Nigerian women missed the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

🏁 FULL TIME! in Abuja 📍

Nigeria 🇳🇬 1-0 South Africa 🇿🇦

Rasheedat Ajibade 43'

First leg ✅ Still to come, second leg in Pretoria on April 9!

Abuja, thanks for your support!

📱#SoarSuperFalcons| #NGARSA| #CAFWCQ| #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/gsqytQuIfg

— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) April 5, 2024