Zambia, Nigeria bow out from Paris 2024 Olympics with 1-4, 1-3 thrashing by Germany, Japan

The Copper Queens have been knocked out of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics in France after Germany defeated Zambia 4-1 in St Etienne.

A brace from Lea Schueller and goals from Klara Buehl and Elisa Senss secured a spot for the Europeans in the next round with a second-place finish in Group B.

Schueller opened the scoring for the 2016 gold medallists 10 minutes in, and Buehl doubled the advantage from long-range two minutes after the break.

Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda capitalized on a mistake by the German goalie to net her fourth goal of the tournament, but Schueller made it 3-1 in the 61st minute before Senss put the icing on the cake in second-half stoppage time.

Elsewhere in Group B, the USA overcame Australia with a 2-1 scoreline, resulting in Australia’s elimination from the competition.

The already qualified USA and Germany advance to the quarter-finals.

Australia’s inferior goal difference compared to other third-placed finishers Brazil and Colombia, who both advanced as best losers, sealed their fate.

In Group C, Brazil lost 2-0 to Spain, while Japan beat Nigeria 3-1, confirming the West Africans’ elimination.

Meanwhile, defending champions Canada reached the quarter-finals after edging Colombia 1-0 in Nice despite having an appeal against their six-point deduction dismissed.

Hosts France also made it to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.

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