Women’s Olympic qualifiers: SA completes job on Tanzania, sets sight on Nigeria

South Africa defeated Tanzania 1-0 tonight at the Mbombela Stadium in Nespruit to qualify for the final round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifying series, where they will face the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

With the win, the African champions completed a 4-0 aggregate rout, having won the first leg 3-0 in Dar es Salaam last week.

Banyana Banyana superstar Thembi Kgatlana scored the only goal of the match in the 58th minute to seal the win.

The Mexico-based forward swept home from inside the box from a clever corner kick routine as the ball was crossed low to her.

Tanzania were much tougher to break down today in South Africa than they were at home, and the East Africans even had a first-half goal disallowed for offside.

The Super Falcons, who have not beaten Banyana Banyana in recent years, await the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations holders after overcoming Cameroon.

The nine-time African champions and by far the most successful women’s football team on the continent defeated Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses 1-0 in Abuja yesterday courtesy of Esther Okoronkwo’s early goal.

The Super Falcons advanced 1-0 on aggregate as the first leg in Douala on Friday ended 0-0.

The final round of the qualifying campaign will be played in April, with the Super Falcons seeking to return to the Olympics for the first time since Beijing 2008.