Super Falcons’ preparation for Paris 2024 Olympics got underway on Monday in the city of Jerez de la Frontera, Sevilla, Spain with 14 players in camp as Nigeria looks forward to her first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are the early birds in Falcons’ nest while goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo also breezed in. Alternate players, goalkeeper Morufa Ademola and forward Gift Monday are also in camp, while Michelle Alozie arrived on Monday afternoon.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), revealed in a statement on Monday that the players had breakfast at the team’s Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort on Monday. Team Administrator, Mary Oboduku, told thenff.com that Osinachi Ohale is expected at the team’s hotel today.
“We started training on Sunday, and the camp is calm. The players are in very high spirits as they look forward to the tournament in France,” Oboduku told thenff.com.
The nine-time African champions, who last played at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in China in 2008, will take on reigning Olympic champions Canada in a training match in Sevilla on Wednesday, 17th July.
Canada’s ladies defeated their counterparts from Sweden 3-2 after a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, to clinch the gold medal in Tokyo three years ago.
In their last outing at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, the Falcons lost 0-1 to Korea Democratic People’s Republic, 0-1 to Germany and 1-3 to eventual silver medallists Brazil.
Women’s football debuted at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1996, but the Super Falcons made their entry in 2000 in Australia, where they lost 1-3 each to China, eventual winners Norway and eventual silver medallists USA. Perpetua Nkwocha scored the lone goal against China while Mercy Akide was the scorer against both Norway and USA.
Nigeria’s best outing – so far – at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament was in Athens 20 years ago, where the Super Falcons finished in 6th place after exiting the tournament in the quarter-finals.
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