Shepolopolo Olympic Opponents Revealed

Shepolopolo have been placed in Group F for the Olympic Games this year in Tokyo after the Women’s Football Tournament teams were drawn on Wednesday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.  

The three other teams within the group are all ex-FIFA Women’s World Cup silver medal winner, including the 2019 runners-up and defending European champions, The Netherlands.

Other ex-FIFA star teams within the group include China, who were World Cup runners-up in 1999, and Brazil who won the tournament’s silver medal in 2007.

Brazil and China have also made the Olympic Podium for their performances in Women’s Football, with Brazil winning silver in 2004 and 2008, whilst China won silver several years earlier at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Shepolopolo’s team captain, Barbra Banda, has said that her team will not be daunted by their opponents, despite The Games being their debut at a global tournament.

“We don’t have any problem with the group we have been drawn in, we are ready for the games and we are still preparing ourselves adequately,” the 21-year-old captain said.

Banda also mentioned the team’s aim of getting past the group stages.

“We don’t want to go there and come out at the first round. We want to go through the rounds and may be through the semi-finals or quarter finals.”

Reaching the quarter finals would match the 2004 feat of Nigeria who are currently the only African side to make it past the opening round of matches. 

The Olympic Women’s Football Tournament will run from July 21 to August 6.

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