Sixteen years after last featuring at the Olympic Games, the Nigeria national women’s team are back again to rub shoulders with the very best teams across the globe.
After putting up a splendid performance at the last Women’s World Cup jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the Super Falcons have given fans the license to believe another great show is possible in Paris
Preparation for the showdown in Paris is already in top gear for the Super Falcons who resumed training in Spain on Friday, July 5.
To highlight the seriousness attached to the task ahead of them, virtually all the 18 players selected by Coach Randy Waldrum are already on the ground in Spain with even the players on the alternate list; hoping to gatecrash the Olympic party also sweating it out.
The Super Falcons’s administrator, Mary Oboduku has given a glimpse of the atmosphere in camp and it is quite encouraging.
“We started training on Sunday, and the team’s camp at Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort is calm. The players are in very high spirits as they look forward to the tournament in France.” She was quoted as saying in an official statement issued by the NFF.
The last time the Super Falcons participated in the Olympic Games was at Beijing 2008.
The 16 years of absence from the big tournament ended in April after the Nigerian women’s senior football team defeated the reigning African champions South Africa 1-0 on aggregate over two tough games in Abuja and Johannesburg.
Despite boasting an impressive roster, featuring standout players like Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC) and six-time African footballer of the year Asisat Oshoala, analysts believe the nine-time African champions face a daunting task in one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
‘ Escaping the group of death?’
The Super Falcons of Nigeria made their Olympic debut in 2000, after women’s football was introduced to the Games in 1996. Unfortunately, they have been drawn into Group C, which is considered one of the toughest groups they’ve ever faced.
With formidable opponents like Spain, Brazil, and Japan, analysts predict a challenging campaign for the Falcons.
Both Spain and Brazil, analysts contend it won’t be easy for Nigeria to defeat Japan likewise.
Brazil, a two-time Olympic silver medalist (2004, 2008), boasts a formidable team led by Marta, their all-time top scorer.
Analysts warn that any team hoping to defeat Brazil in the group stage must have a robust defense.
Nigeria faces an uphill battle, as they must also contend with powerhouse teams Japan, a former world champion, and Spain, the current world champion, making for a daunting task ahead.
‘ Randy Optimism ’
While the Super Falcons’ head coach, Randy Waldrum, agrees that the team is in one of the most challenging groups in the tournament, he expressed optimism about the team qualifying for the next stage. Waldrum cited how the team performed impressively in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup despite facing top-rated teams in the world in the tournament.
“I think this one could be a special group,” the Super Falcons manager told ESPN. “We’ve shown our quality against some of the best teams in the world at the World Cup, and hopefully, we’ll do the same at the Olympics,” he added. He also spoke about how the team has improved in recent times and his plans to bring some young talent on board after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What a man can do…
In the annals of Nigerian football, the men’s Olympic gold in Atlanta ’96 stands as a testament to the nation’s footballing prowess. That squad was faced with the daunting task of confronting Brazil and Japan in the group stage before going all the way to win the Olympic gold medal in dramatic fashion. Now, the Super Falcons find themselves in a similar crucible. The same foes that once stood in the way of Nigerian men’s glory now challenge the women. Can the Falcons rewrite history? Can they prove that in the beautiful game, a woman can indeed do what a man can do, and perhaps even better? Good luck Super Falcons 🤞
Do you believe the Super Falcons can win a medal at the Paris Olympic Games?
