Botswana, Namibia fail to progress in Olympic qualifiers
Botswana and Namibia have bowed out of the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeats on Tuesday, but two teams from the COSAFA region remain in contention … and both could make it.
Namibia lost 2-0 in Morocco in the second leg of their second round tie to go down 4-0 on aggregate to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup participants.
Namibia fought hard in the tie and held the north Africans until the 76th minute of the second leg before conceding to Imane Saoud and Ghizlane Chebbak (penalty).
Botswana also trailed 2-0 from the first leg of their tie with Tanzania and lost 1-0 in the home clash in Gaborone to go down 3-0 on aggregate.
Aisha Masaka, a star of the COSAFA Women’s Championship in the past, scored the only goal for Tanzania.
The latter now meet African champions South Africa in the third round, with the winner of that tie to face either Nigeria or Cameroon for a place at the Paris Games.
Zambia take on Ghana in the third round with a potential clash against either Tunisia or Morocco in the final stage.
The third round games will be played in February next year and the fourth and final stage in April.
Africa will have two representatives at the Olympics this time.