South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify for Rio 2016 women’s football tournament
‘Mighty Warriors’ make history for Zimbabwe after tense two-legged qualifier against Cameroon
Zimbabwe’s star striker Rudo Neshemba (right) in action against South Africa (Getty Images)
South Africa and Zimbabwe will be Africa’s representatives in the women’s football tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, FIFA has confirmed.
Both teams booked their places in Brazil by winning two-legged ties, with Zimbabwe’s ‘Mighty Warriors’ triumphing over Cameroon on away goals, while South Africa’s ‘Banyana Banyana’ beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 on aggregate.
Zimbabwe’s women, who will be the first team from their nation to take part in a global football tournament, lost the first leg in Cameroon 2-1. But a 1-0 win at home in Harare earned the Olympic berth and sparked wild celebrations.
South Africa had been held to a 0-0 draw at home by Equatorial Guinea, but a 1-0 away saw them qualify for their second-consecutive Olympic Games.
The two teams join Brazil, Colombia, Germany and France on the list of sides confirmed for Rio.
