With their backs against the wall, the Super Falcons are gearing up for a must-win clash against Japan in the Women’s Football Tournament at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics. After suffering two narrow 1-0 defeats against Brazil and Spain, the Nigerian team faces a critical match at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Wednesday.
Despite the tough situation, the Super Falcons are optimistic about their chances. The team believes they can secure a commanding victory over Japan, which would give them a shot at advancing to the quarter-finals as one of the two best third-placed teams.
Reflecting on past victories, the Falcons can draw inspiration from their 2004 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament match in Piraeus, Greece, where they defeated Japan 1-0 with a crucial goal from Vera Okolo. That win marked Nigeria’s first and only quarter-final appearance in the tournament to date, as well as their sole Olympic victory in 24 years of participation.
“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,” said captain Rasheedat Ajibade in a press statement issued by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday.
Ajibade, along with Asisat Oshoala and Chinwendu Ihezuo, missed critical scoring opportunities in their last game against world champions Spain, which cost Nigeria valuable points and denied them a chance to join the exclusive list of goal-scorers for the country in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Only three players have scored for Nigeria’s women’s team at the Olympic Games. Mercy Akide-Udoh, now FIFA’s Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Football, is the top scorer with four goals. She netted twice at the Sydney Olympics and twice more in Athens. Four-time African Player of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha follows with two goals, and Vera Okolo rounds out the list with her lone strike against Japan in Athens 20 years ago.
While the Super Falcons are confident, the Japanese team will not be easy to defeat. The Asian giants lost 2-1 to Spain in their opening game but bounced back to beat Brazil by the same margin.
As the match approaches, the Super Falcons are determined to make history once again and secure their place in the quarter-finals.