African women aim to make impact at Rio Olympics

South Africa women in action against USA in a friendly in July

While Africa has won Olympic men’s football gold twice, the women’s tournament has proved to be far more challenging for the continent.

This is the sixth time that women’s football has been played at the Olympics, and the only time that an African team has progressed to the knock-out stage was in 2004 when Nigeria reached the quarter-finals.

Africa was not represented at the 1996 Olympics, and in the four tournaments that the continent has taken part in, the record is far from impressive.

The African teams have a combined record of one win, one draw and 12 defeats.

Nigeria beat Japan 1-0 in 2004 in the second of the Super Falcons’ appearances, and South Africa did relatively well to draw 0-0 with Japan in 2012, their first time to feature in the competition.

Unlike the men’s competition, the women’s tournament is for senior teams.

Africa’s two representatives in Brazil are the two lowest-ranked of the 12 participating teams – South Africa are 52, and Zimbabwe are a lowly 93 in the world.

Here, BBC Sport assesses their chances.

South Africa

Quick factsRoad to Brazil: Beat Gabon 8-2 on aggregate, Kenya 2-0 and Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Second appearance at the Olympic women’s tournamentPlaying in Group E with Brazil, China and Sweden

Road to Brazil: Beat Gabon 8-2 on aggregate, Kenya 2-0 and Equatorial Guinea 1-0

Second appearance at the Olympic women’s tournament

Playing in Group E with Brazil, China and Sweden

Banyana Banyana have enjoyed thorough preparations, with a $1m dollar budget from national lottery funds. A …

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