Nigeria’s Super Falcons bounce back to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament with some fear factor for all opponents, and Brazil are the first to face the girls with the swagger in what promises to be an explosive opener to Group C in the city of Bordeaux on Thursday evening.
In years gone by, pundits would have dismissed the clash as a routine three-pointer for the South Americans, who continue to produce some of the world’s best legs in the game. But so much has changed over the past year-and-half, and on the evidence of their outing at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, any team that under-rates the nine-time African champions could end up with a black eye and a bloody nose.
The Falcons are returning to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament the way they left – against Brazil. Their last game at the tournament was against Brazil, when they lost 1-3 to the Canarinhas in front of 51,112 spectators at the impressive Workers’ Stadium in Beijing, China. Perpetua Nkwocha’s penalty kick that put Nigeria in front was annulled by a Cristiane hat-trick that sent Brazil to the last eight.
However, women’s football aficionados worldwide consider that Thursday’s encounter at the 42,000 -capacity Stade Matmut Atlantique in southern France will be much more competitive and entertaining.
Nigeria’s ensemble is currently brimming with highly-gifted, talented and enterprising professionals who continue to dazzle with their clubs in Europe and the Americas, and they suffer no anxieties or palpitations when they take the pitch against the very best squads from anywhere, as was seen in Australia 12 months ago.
Down Under, the girls coached by American Randy Waldrum successfully checkmated Olympic champions Canada, defeated exciting hosts Australia and drew with an ambitious Republic of Ireland side in Brisbane to reach the Round of 16. There, they punched England severally but could not get that important goal, and eventually lost after a penalty shootout following scoreless regulation and extra time.
Only reserve goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi remains part of the Falcons’ squad from that 2008 experience in China, but goalkeeper Ann Chiejine, assistant coach with the team in France, was part of a memorable encounter with the Brazilians at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in the USA in 1999.
Nigeria roared back from 0-3 down at half time to tie the encounter 3-3, but lost via the ‘golden goal’ at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Maryland.
On Thursday, there will be no punches pulled by either side, with the focus on the three points as the race begins for slots in the quarter-finals.
Coach Waldrum can afford to be confident, with world-class goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defence stalwarts Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin and Chidinma Okeke, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade, Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun and Toni Payne, and forwards Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu.
The Super Falcons flew past their counterparts from Ethiopia, Cameroon and South Africa to reach the final tournament, and no doubt, possess the steel and flair to go all the way in France.
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