Tokyo 2020: Zambia defeat Cameroon to clinch Olympic ticket

The Shepolopolo of Zambia have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on away goals after defeating the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 2-1 at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.

Zambia make it to the global showpiece for the first time in their history by clinching the sole automatic ticket in Africa at the expense of Cameroon.

The first leg of the tie ended 3-2 in favour of the home team in Yaounde. Grace Chanda opened the scoring for the Copper Queens with a brace before the home team rallied back courtesy of Aboudi Onguene’s double and Ajara Nchout’s lone strike.

Just like the first leg, in the second leg, Zambia took a 2-0 lead with first half goals from Mary Mwakapila and Hellen Mubanga. The Zambians led 4-3 on aggregate at half time and Cameroon needed a quick response to keep their Tokyo 2020 dreams alive.

The Indomitable Lionesses tried to unsettle the Shepolopolo but they remained resolute as the Lionesses were only able to pull one goal back through Nchout late into added time. Hence, the tie ended 4-4 with Zambia picking the Olmypic ticket courtesy of two away goals.

By virtue of this qualification, Zambia also became the fifth African nation to qualify for the summer women’s Olympics after Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

After missing out on an automatic slot, Cameroon will hope to make a return to the Olympics since their debut in 2012 when they face the South American side Chile in the intercontinental play-off next month.

The Indomitable Lionesses will host the first leg in Yaounde on April 9 before travelling to face the South Americans in the second leg on April 15.