Zambia and Nigeria suffered defeats as the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Games football competition entered second round complicating their paths to the quarter-finals.
Zambia went toe-to-toe with Australia’s Matildas in a thrilling 11-goal encounter at the Stade de Nice but suffered a 6-5 defeat in the last minute despite a historic hat-trick by Barbra Banda.
The Zambian captain opened the scoring with a spectacular 30-yard curler just seconds after kick-off. Despite Australia’s quick equaliser, Banda went on to complete a hat-trick, becoming the first player to score three hat-tricks in Olympic football history.
Banda’s heroics, coupled with a brace from teammate Rachael Kundananji, weren’t enough to secure victory. The Zambians conceded four goals as the match approached the hour mark, before Michelle Heyman clinched a dramatic late winner for Australia.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, still reeling from their opening 1-0 loss to Brazil, faced a stern test against world champions Spain and stumbled 1-0 from a late goal.
Randy Waldrum’s side put up a resilient defensive display but struggled to capitalise on their chances. Their resistance was finally broken in the 86th minute when Alexia Putellas scored the decisive goal for Spain directly from a free-kick.
With two losses from two matches, both African sides face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Nigeria’s hopes hang by a thread as they prepare to face Japan on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, at 15:00 GMT at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Zambia will take on a tough Germany side in their final group game on Wednesday.
