The Nigeria women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, are gearing up for a crucial last group match against Japan in the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament.
Set to take place on Wednesday at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, this game could determine the Falcons’ fate in the competition.
Despite narrow losses in their opening two matches, the Nigerian side remain hopeful of securing a quarter-final berth as one of the two best third-placed teams. Their optimism is buoyed by a historical victory over Japan in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade expressed the team’s determination, saying, “Victory over Japan is possible. We will work hard so that we can accomplish that. The Super Falcons have done it before and we can do it again.”
The 2004 win against Japan, secured by Vera Okolo’s lone goal, stands as Nigeria’s only Olympic victory in their 24-year participation history. It also marked their sole quarter-final appearance in the tournament.
However, the team faces scoring challenges. Key players Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, and Chinwendu Ihezuo missed crucial opportunities in their recent match against world champions Spain. The Super Falcons will need to improve their finishing to overcome Japan.
Historically, Nigeria’s Olympic goal-scoring has been limited. Mercy Akide-Udoh leads with four goals across two tournaments, followed by Perpetua Nkwocha with two. Okolo’s winning strike against Japan in 2004 completes the list of Nigerian Olympic scorers.
