FIFA has named Cameroon’s Aline Guimbang A Etong Aline and Atezambong Fomo Carine in the team of match officials to take charge next month’s Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier first-leg game game pitting the Copper Queens of Zambia against the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Zambia.
According to kick442.com sources, Guimbang will be the Referee for the game and assisted by compatriot Atezambong as first assistant for the crucial fixture to work alongside experience Malian duo official Fanta Kone Idrissa and Fofana Rokiatou as second assistant and fourth official respectively.
The caliber of officials for the contest is telling of the importance of it as Carine and Fanta who already featured at multiple women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) and are expected to bring their experience to the fold.
The April 5th fixture expected to be the penultimate for the journey to Paris later this year is thus blessed with a collection of great officials.
How Zambia and Morocco made it to the last four:
Zambia received a first-round bye and were set to begin their campaign against Mali. But the Malians, who edged past Burkina Faso in round one, withdrew meaning Zambia went through to the third and penultimate round without playing a game.
In February’s first leg against Ghana in Accra, Zambia scored a 1-0 win thanks to Racheal Kundananji, the world’s most expensive women’s footballer following her transfer from Madrid CFF to Bay FC earlier that month. But the second leg at home in Ndola was an incredibly tense affair.
Captain Barbra Banda’s fine individual effort in the 11th minute saw Zambia double their overall lead, but Ghana scored twice to level the tie early in the second half. Kabange Mupopo – who ran in the 400m heats at Rio 2016 – restored Zambia’s advantage, but Azumah Bugre’s long-range drive for the visitors made it 3-3 on aggregate after Kundananji was stretchered off.
Extra time looked inevitable but, six minutes into stoppage time, Banda struck a free-kick through the Ghanaian wall and into the net to send Zambia through. They are bidding for a back-to-back Olympic appearances after Banda scored hat-tricks in consecutive games at Tokyo 2020.
The 24-year-old has since become the second most expensive signing in women’s football history, joining Orlando Pride from Shanghai Shengli, while Kundananji is doubtful for the play-off.
Morocco also entered in the second round and cruised past Namibia 4-0 on aggregate, winning both legs 2-0 apiece.
Then came a third-round clash with Tunisia. Ghizlane Chebbak’s winner gave Morocco a 2-1 win in the first leg in Soliman.
But the second leg in Rabat was a far more comfortable affair with skipper Ibtissam Jraïdi scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 4-1 triumph which saw them keep their Olympic debut hopes alive.
Four African nations are battling it out to clinch the last two spots in the Olympic women’s football tournament at Paris 2024.
Two-legged ties between Nigeria and South Africa, and Zambia and Morocco, will decide who will book their berths in the French capital.
The first legs take place on Friday April 5 with the decisive second legs four days later.
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