By David Gold
October 22 – Cameroon’s women’s football team edged out Nigeria to take their place at the London 2012 Olympic Games, after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory, with the sides unable to be separated after 210 minutes of play.
Nigeria had won the first leg of their crucial qualifying tie 2-1 and travelled to Cameroon hopeful of reaching London next year.
But goals from Edoa Zouga and Christine Mani – from the penalty spot – put Cameroon 2-0 ahead at half-time and when Osinachi Ohale was sent off, reducing Nigeria to 10 players, there was little prospect of a comeback.
But Francisca Ordega (pictured) struck late on to send the game into extra time.
Neither side could score over the next half an hour, but Cameroon edged the penalty shootout after Gloria Iroka and Faith Ikidi missed for Nigeria.
It is another blow for the country after they missed out on qualifying for the African Nations Cup recently.
The men’s squad have a chance to salvage some pride for Nigeria when they take part in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Morocco next month.
Cameroon join South Africa in qualifying for London 2012 and it will be the first time they have competed at the Olympic Games since the first women’s football competition was held in Atlanta in 1996.
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