ZIMBABWE Women’s Sevens Rugby team bowed out of the Paris 2024 Olympics race following two successive defeats in the Africa Women’s 7s Olympic Qualifier at the Stade Olympic Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir, Tunisia on Saturday.
The Lady Cheetahs fell back 5-0 at half time against an experienced Springbok Women of South Africa in their first match.
Hopes of crawling back into the encounter were extinguished as the South Africans scored successive tries unanswered.
Last minute try by Zimbabwe ended the game 26-5.
Zimbabwe went down on an identical 26-5 scoreline against hosts Tunisia in their second match. A red card to skipper Delight Mukomondo changed the complexion of the match as Zimbabwe conceded two quick converted tries to go to the break trailing 14-0.
Tarrena Munodaani went over the whitewash, scoring a try for Zimbabwe immediately after the break, but missed the conversion.
That was the last Zimbabwe came close to getting points on the board with Tunisia seizing the opportunity to extend their lead. The last match was a one-sided affair as Zimbabwe lost 22-0 against East African side Uganda.
Lady Cheetahs’ captain Mokumondo described the road to the Olympics as an exciting journey that every player wants to partake in.
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“This is a great opportunity that every girl would die for. It’s an opportunity that everyone would want to participate in and it’s a great step participating in such a big tournament,” she said.
“I believe in each and everyone of my players, there’s something big brewing within us.”
Only two finalists qualify for the Olympics set for Paris, France next year.
