Africa’s hopes of adding another Olympic Games football gold to the trophies won by Nigeria at the 1996 Atlanta Games and Cameroon at Sydney 2000 took a hit when Zambia’s national women’s team surrendered a 5-2 lead to fall 5-6 to Australia.
A hat trick from Barbara Banda and Rachael Kundananji’s brace had given the female Chipolopolo an almost impregnable three goal cushion only for Australia’s late rally to undo them.
There was further misery for the continent when former Ballon D’Or winner Alex Putellas netted the only goal which gave Spain a 1-0 win over Nigeria.
Emma Hayes’ four time gold medalists United States of America served notice of their ambition to return to perch of women’s football by clobbering Germany 4-1 thanks to goals from Sophia Smith and Lynn Williams.
RELATED STORIES
In the men’s draw, Guinea Conakry and Uzbekistan are the only teams yet to register a single point ahead of Tuesday’s final group games. Guinea pushed tournament favourites France all the way but still lost 0-1 and will be eliminated unless they overcome USA, 4-1 winners over New Zealand.
Morocco were ambushed 2-1 by Ukraine but they will join Spain and Japan in the quarter finals if they beat Iraq on Tuesday. Mario Rogerio’s young Egyptian Pharaohs meanwhile gave themselves a fighting chance by torpedoing Uzbekistan 1-0 whereas Mali conceded a late goal from Rihito Yamamoto to lose 0-1 to Japan.
RESULTS (Men)
Dominican Republic 1-3 Spain,
Argentina 3-1 Iraq,
Uzbekistan 0-1 Egypt,
Ukraine 2-1 Morocco,
USA 4-1 New Zealand,
Israel 2-4 Paraguay,
Japan 1-0 Mali,
France 1-0 Guinea
TUESDAY
Dominated Republic v Uzbekistan,
Spain v Egypt,
Ukraine v Argentina, Morocco v Iraq,
USA v Guinea,
New Zealand v France,
Paraguay v Mali,
Israel v Japan
WOMEN
Brazil 1-2 Japan,
New Zealand 0-2 Colombia,
Spain 1-0 Nigeria,
Australia 6-5 Zambia,
France 1-2 Canada,
USA 4-1 Germany
