Nigeria’s Super Falcons made their long-awaited return to Olympic football after a 16-year absence, but their Paris 2024 campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 1-0 loss to Brazil in their opening Group C match.
The game’s decisive moment came in the first half when Gabriela Nunes Da Silva unleashed a ferocious strike in the 37th minute that proved to be the only goal of the contest.
Randy Waldrum’s women began positively, showing attacking intent and creating several opportunities. Chiwendu Ihezuo missed Nigeria’s best chance of the game, setting the tone for a match that saw the Super Falcons play second fiddle despite their promising start.
Nigeria had three significant chances in quick succession, with Rasheedat Ajibade leading the charge. Ajibade, Nigeria’s standout player, skillfully lost her marker before crossing for Ihezuo, whose header was brilliantly saved by Brazil’s goalkeeper.
This sequence highlighted Nigeria’s potential, but ultimately, they were unable to capitalise on the opportunities as the Samba Girls took control of the match.
Brazil’s composed play and tactical discipline allowed them to dominate possession and dictate the game’s tempo, eventually securing their victory and extending their unbeaten run against Nigeria to four matches.
This defeat marks a challenging start for Randy Waldrum’s side, who find themselves in a formidable Group C alongside reigning world champions Spain and Asian powerhouse Japan. The Super Falcons will need to regroup and refocus quickly to stay competitive in this tough group.
The match echoed their previous Olympic meeting in Beijing 2008, which was also Nigeria’s last appearance in the tournament. The familiarity of this scenario serves as a stark reminder of the Super Falcons’ struggles on the Olympic stage, particularly against Brazil.
Looking ahead, the Super Falcons will face Spanish women in their second game of the 2024 Olympics on 28 July.
Meanwhile, other results in the tournament saw world champions Spain beat Japan 2-1, Germany thrash Australia 3-0, and Canada edge New Zealand 2-1 on Matchday 1 in France.