Super Falcons hope for big win against Japan in Nantes

Despite narrow defeats in their previous two matches in the Women’s Football Tournament of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics, the Super Falcons believe they can do the needful by beating Japan in commanding fashion at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Wednesday to earn a place in the quarter-finals, albeit as one of the two best third-placed teams heading into that stage.

Japan fell hard to the Super Falcons in a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament match in Piraeus, Greece in 2004, when Vera Okolo’s strike was the only goal of the match and earned Nigeria all three points.

That win, which also handed the Super Falcons their only quarter-final berth at the tournament so far, is also the only victory the nine-time African champions have celebrated at the Olympics since they started participating 24 years ago.

“Victory over Japan is possible. We will work hard so that we can accomplish that. The Super Falcons have done it before and we can do it again,” said captain Rasheedat Ajibade.