South Africa’s senior women’s national team, the reigning African champions, secured their spot in the fourth and final round of the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers after defeating Tanzania 1-0 in the return leg of the third round clash.
Having already claimed a convincing 3-0 victory in the first leg on Tanzanian soil, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana entered the return fixture with confidence.
Tanzania, featuring players mainly from JKT Queens and Yanga Princess, counted on the skills of Turkish-based Opa Clement as a standout performer.
The match saw Tanzania initially celebrate what they thought was a goal in the 37th minute, only for it to be disallowed due to an offside ruling. The first half concluded in a scoreless draw, setting the stage for a tense second half.
It was Thembi Kgathlana who ultimately broke the deadlock, slotting home a decisive goal in the 58th minute from a well-placed free kick by Biyana. With this crucial goal, South Africa secured a 1-0 victory in the return leg, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win on aggregate.
The outcome sets up an eagerly anticipated two-legged encounter between South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Nigeria’s Super Falcons next month.
The winner of this showdown will claim one of two coveted African slots for the women’s football event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.