South Africa have ended Tanzania’s Twiga Stars’ hopes of qualifying for the final round of the 2024 Olympic Games.

After losing the first leg 3-0 in Dar es Salaam a week ago, the Twiga Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat to South Africa on Tuesday at the Mbombela Stadium, Mpumalanga. Thembi Kgatlana netted the lone goal after 58 minutes.

Twiga Stars tried to push forward and created some good scoring opportunities, but failed to find the target.

Bakari Shime, the Twiga Stars coach said his team had put up a good show against a strong South African team. “The players gave a good performance, but we failed to find the goals,” added Shime. The other teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda and Ethiopia dropped out in the second round of the qualifiers.

South Africa will now face Nigeria, while the winner between Tunisia and Morocco will face off between the winner between Zambia and Ghana in the other deciding round. The best two teams will represent Africa at the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.

CECAFA representatives Uganda and Tanzania have registered wins in the first leg of the second round in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Football qualifiers.

CECAFA representatives Uganda and Tanzania have registered wins in the first leg of the second round in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Football qualifiers.

The Uganda Crested Cranes saw-off a star studded Cameroon team 2-0 in a match played at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru, while Tanzania’s Twiga Stars also registered a similar score at the Azam Complex on Thursday evening.

After a goalkeeping error Uganda took the lead through Catherine Nagadya in the 11th minute, while Fazila Ikwaput made it 2-0 for the hosts after 75 minutes from close range.

But earlier minutes to the break Uganda’s goalkeeper Vanessa Karungi saved Cameroon captain Nchout Njoya Ajara’s penalty kick.

Charles Ayeikoh Lukula, Uganda Crested Cranes’ interim coach thanked the players for the hard work after the win. ” We still have a lot of work to do ahead of the return leg to be played in Cameroon, ” added the coach.

In Tanzania, Twiga Stars netted in each half to silence the Botswana team. Turkish based striker Opa Clement scored after only two minutes from the spot, while Belgium based forward Aisha Masaka made it 2-0 after 88 minutes.

On Wednesday Ethiopia held giants Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Addis Ababa.

The best two teams during the qualifiers will represent the African continent at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France.

Hosts Ethiopia have held Nigeria’s Super Falcons 1-1 in the first leg of the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers.

Birkie Amare gave the hosts an early lead after only 6 minutes at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa.

The start studded Nigerian side tried to push forward led by Barcelona’s Asisat Lamina Oshoala, but the Ethiopians stood firm.

After recess the Super Falcons who reached the knockout round of the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup leveled matters after 51 minutes through skipper Rasheedat Ajibade. The two teams created more scoring opportunities, but failed to score more goals.

Firew Haile Gabriel, the head coach of Ethiopia’s team said that they still have a lot of work to do ahead of the return leg. ” We need to learn to take our chances that we create infront of goal and also defend well, ”  said the coach. The return leg will be played on October 31st in Abuja.

On Thursday two other teams from the CECAFA Zone will be in action with Tanzania hosting Botswana at the Azam Complex, while Uganda Crested Cranes face Cameroon at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

_{The Uganda Crested Cranes have been drawn to face Rwanda in the first round of the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Games Football qualifiers.}

_{Eighteen teams that will be involved in the first round were drawn on Tuesday Twenty five teams were drawn in Cairo, Egypt.}

_{While Uganda Crested Cranes, the CECAFA Women’s Championship reigning champions have been drawn to face Rwanda, Ethiopia will battle Chad, and Tanzania take on Congo Brazzaville in the first round. The first-round matches to be played on a home and away basis are scheduled for July 10-18, 2023 ,}

_{The seven highly ranked teams including TotalEnergies Women’s champions South Africa will join the qualifiers in the second round.}

_{In-case the teams from the CECAFA region qualify for the next stage they will face tough opposition with the winner between Uganda and Rwanda facing Cameroon, while Ethiopia will battle Nigeria if they go past the first hurdle. The winner between Congo Brazzaville and Tanzania will take on Botswana in the second round with matches to be played between October 23-31, 2023.}

_{The eight winners in the second round will progress to the third round (February 19-28, 2024), then the fourth round (April 1-9, 2024) will see teams battle for the four slots.}

_{First Round Fixtures:}

_{Guinea Bissau vs Benin}

_{Guinea vs Ghana}

_{Burkina Faso vs Mali}

_{Cote d’Ivoire vs Sierra Leone}

_{Namibia vs Equatorial Guinea}

_{Uganda vs Rwanda}

_{Ethiopia vs Chad}

_{Congo Brazzaville vs Tanzania}

_{Mozambique vs DR Congo}