SUPER Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has told Nigerians that she and her colleagues will not let the country down as they hunt for a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The nine-time African champions are 90 minutes away from a first appearance in the Olympics since 2008, after they defeated South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the first leg of their final round qualifying tie in Abuja on Friday.
The decisive second leg comes up on Tuesday night in Pretoria and Ajibade wants Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of the Super Falcons to earn a ticket to the women’s football event of Paris 2024.
“We are not under any illusions. It is going to be a big and tough fight. For us, we have 90 minutes standing between us and the long-elusive ticket to the Olympics and we will give it our all,” said Ajibade, who scored the only goal at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Friday.
“We want Nigerians to believe in the Super Falcons. The players are motivated by the keen desire to play in the Olympics.
“Personally, I have played at every tournament you can think of, except the Olympics. The time to do it is now.”
The players trained at their hotel yesterday and also trained at the MKO Abiola National Stadium this morning, before departing Abuja for Lagos aboard an Air Peace aircraft, to connect their flight to South Africa tonight.
The Super Falcons will arrive in Johannesburg tomorrow morning, and then take a one-hour road trip to Pretoria. They are scheduled to have the official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium by 7.30pm (6.30pm Nigerian time) tomorrow.
