The female National Team of Cameroon, the Indomitable Lionesses, will face Chile in the CAF–CONMEBOL intercontinental playoff doubleheader on 10th and 13th April in Antalya, Turkey.
After a 13-month wait, Cameroon will finally continue their quest to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Women’s football tournament. The Indomitable Lionesses missed earning an automatic ticket to Tokyo, after falling to Zambia on away goals. The home and away games between the duo ended in a 4-4 aggregate in the final round of the CAF qualifying series in March 2020.
The Indomitable Lionesses beat Zambia 3-2 at home on March 5, 2020. However, their hope was dashed after the Copper Queens of Zambia handed them a 2-1 defeat in the away leg. However, Indomitable Lionesses have a second chance to book a ticket to Tokyo.
After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the playoff schedule twice, the Lionesses will seek to upstage Chile in Antalya. The first leg showdown is on April 10 with the second led coming off three days later in the same venue.
The Indomitable Lionesses’ last Olympic appearance
Meanwhile, Cameroon is bidding to return to the Olympics after their debut in London 2012, having missed Rio 2016. However, Cameroon will need to overcome the 2018 Copa America runners-up, who are also in search of their maiden qualification.
Cameroon saw off Ethiopia, DR Congo, and Cote d’Ivoire before losing to Zambia, who will have their Olympic Games debut this summer. Meanwhile, Henriette Akaba who is ply her trade in France is optimistic about her side’s chances. Akaba, who made a 25-player squad named by coach Alain Djeumfa, told CAFOnline.com that the competition is the second biggest after the world cup.
“It was unfortunate that we lost to Zambia, but we still have two matches to play against Chile. I believe we still have a good chance if everyone gives their best in those two games in Turkey. I think what matters now is for us to go all out to play and win to make it to the Olympics. The Olympic Games women’s football tournament is the second biggest competition in the world; I will be happy to help my country qualify again for the event”.
The Tokyo Olympic Games
An aggregate triumph over Chile will see Africa parading two teams in Tokyo, along with Zambia. FIFA will host the final draw on April 21 at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Zambia has overcome Kenya 3-2 on aggregate. They won by a lone goal at home after a 2-2 draw in Kenya. Meanwhile, Kenya eliminated the Black Queens of Ghana in the third round of the qualifiers with a lone goal-away victory. Also, Cote d’Ivoire eliminated that the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the third round of the qualifiers.
The 2020 Summer Olympics will begin on Friday, 23rd July 2021and end on Sunday, 8th August 2021.
The Games are currently scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021. The Paralympics will follow, from August 24 to September 5. The Olympic Games were originally scheduled for 2020, but organizers were forced to postpone the event. This was the first time in the history of the event history due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, North Korea has opted out of the games citing coronavirus as the main reason for their inability to participate.
