Zambia booked their ticket to Japan with a 2-1 win over Cameroon in the return leg of the African women’s football Olympic play-off final.
The win saw the Copper Queens ding on away goal rule after wiping the 3-2 lead the Indomitable Lionesses carried from the first leg.
Mary Mwakapila and Hellen Mubanga scored the all-important goals in the first stanza that helped the South African nation earn a place at Tokyo 2020, which is scheduled to go ahead as planned in July and August due to Coronavirus outbreak.
Cameroon nearly broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Ngock Grace’s shot went over the crossbar, with Hazel Nali well beaten.
Zambia created a chance of their own moments later, as Grace Chanda combined well with Martha Tembo, before firing a low effort just wide of the upright.
The Copper Queens eventually broke the deadlock in the 15th minute as Mary Mwakapila pounced on a loose ball to give her side the lead.
Onguene Gabrielle came close to scoring an equalizer in the 30th minute but her header was palmed away by Nali.
The Copper Queens grew stronger as the half progressed, as Hellen Mubanga doubled her team lead from a well-articulated finish around the near post area with the defence caught square.
The score remained 2-0 in favour of Zambia at the halftime break.
The visitors got off to a blistering start in the second half and were nearly level in the 49th minute but Owona Aurelle blazed wide of the mark from six-yards out.
Cameroon were not to be denied a minute later, as Estelle Johnson cut in from the left flank, before rifling home a venomous strike from the edge of the area.
Michelle Akabeedoa proved to be the busier of the two goalkeepers and was called into action in the 68th minute to keep out Lushomo Mweemba’s volley.
Cameroon started to pile on the pressure after the 75-minute mark and troubled Nali with a few efforts from distance, mainly Nchout Ajara.
The Lionesses squandered a chance to level matters in the 83-minute when Brigitte Ombodou saw her close-range effort deflect inches wide of the upright, after a goal-mouth scramble in the box.
Deep in the injury time, Ajara scored pulled one back, but other attempts to overturn the match in the remaining minutes proved futile.
Cameroon will have one final chance to seal a place at the Games, with a play-off against Chile, the runners-up in the 2018 Copa America.
