THE Super Falcons of Nigeria have not given up hope of reaching the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event even after losing their first group matches, captain Rasheedat Ajibade has insisted.
The nine-time African champions lost 1-0 each to Brazil and world champions Spain in their first two Group C games and need victory against Japan tomorrow to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout rounds.
Victory over 2011 world champions and Asian powerhouses Japan in Nantes tomorrow could earn a quarter-final spot for Nigeria as one of the two best third-place finishers from the three groups.
“Victory over Japan is possible. We will work hard so that we can accomplish that,” said Ajibade, who has been one of the best Super Falcons players in France.
“The Super Falcons have done it before and we can do it again.”
The Super Falcons are not only in the hunt for an unlikely quarter-final spot, they are also seeking their second-ever victory in the Olympics.
Incidentally, Nigeria’s only win at the Olympics was against Japan back in 2004 in Greece, when Vera Okolo scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
That victory also handed the Super Falcons their only quarter-final berth at the Olympics so far, and they are hoping fkr the same outcome tomorrow.
Curiously, none of the players in the current squad has ever scored at the Olympics and whoever gets on the scoresheet tomorrow will become Nigeria’s fourth scorer in the competition’s history.
Mercy Akide-Udoh, the ruthless striker who is now FIFA’s Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Football, is the top scorer for Super Falcons with four Olympic goals.
She netted two at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, in the 3-1 losses to Norway (in Canberra) and USA (in Melbourne). She also scored twice in Athens four years later, in the 2-1 defeats to Sweden and Germany.
Four-time African Player of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha has two Olympic goals, scored in the 3-1 defeat by China in Canberra in 2000 and in the 3-1 loss to Brazil in Beijing eight years later.
Vera Okolo’s lone strike came in the win over Japan in Athens 20 years ago.
