The early action in the Olympics Games Paris 2024 continues Thursday 25 July, with the focus falling on Women’s Handball, the continuing Men’s Sevens Rugby tournament, and the kick-off of Women’s Football.
Angola has long been Africa's strongest nation when it comes to Women's Handball, with the team racking up 17 appearances at the World Women's Handball Championship, six Olympic Games participations, and 15 African Championship titles.
'As Pérolas' (The Pearls) will begin their quest to win an Olympic medal for the first time when they face the Netherlands on Thursday morning.
"Angola has managed to produce new players and be at the top in Africa all the time,” former coach Morten Soubak explained. "Besides men’s football, the biggest thing in Angola is women's handball."
He added, "The women's national team are the darlings of the country. When they win the African championship, they ride through Luanda in a huge bus with government officials and reception by the president. So, they are very popular."
The Men's Sevens Rugby picks up where it left off on Wednesday, with African teams Kenya and South Africa closing out their group duties with afternoon matches against Kenya and Japan respectively – with the quarterfinals then getting going in the evening.
The Women's Football tournament kicks off on Thursday and the first African nation in action is Nigeria, who will face Group C rivals Brazil in Bordeaux, before Zambia get their Group B campaign underway with a clash against the United States in Nice.
The Super Falcons return to the Olympic stage for the first time since 2008, and coach Randy Waldrum has selected a blend of experience and youth. The squad is headlined by established stars like captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, rock-solid defender Osinachi Ohale, and Nigeria's most decorated footballer, Asisat Oshoala.
As for the Copper Queens, coach Bruce Mwape continues to shrug off controversies and recently hit back against allegations that he does not have the tactical chops to take his team to a higher level.
"People say we don’t have good tactics... me up to now I don’t understand the tactics they talk about,” Mwape noted. “If it means we look for somebody to assist, we have qualified Zambian coaches, I would rather ask for a Zambian coach to help us in terms of tactics.”
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Olympic Games Paris 2024 selected broadcast highlights
Thursday 25 July
- 11:00: Women's Handball, Netherlands v Angola – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Variety 4 and SuperSport Maximo 1
- 13:50: Men's Sevens Rugby, Samoa v Kenya – LIVE on SuperSport Rugby and SuperSport Football
- 16:00: Men's Sevens Rugby, South Africa v Japan – LIVE on SuperSport Rugby and SuperSport Football
- 19:00: Women's Football, Nigeria v Brazil – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Variety 4, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2
- 21:00: Women's Football, United States v Zambia – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Variety 4, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 2
21:00 and onwards: Men's Sevens Rugby Quarterfinals – LIVE on SuperSport Rugby and SuperSport Football