- The Super Falcons have begun preparations for their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years. Their camp in Jerez de la Frontera, near Sevilla, is now active with the arrival of most invited players
- Key players such as team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are already in camp, joined by other players like goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have begun preparations for their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years. Their camp in Jerez de la Frontera, near Sevilla, is now active with the arrival of most invited players.
Team Administrator Mary Oboduku reported that 12 players were present for breakfast on Monday, and two more players were expected at the team’s Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort by Monday afternoon.
“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.
Key players such as team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are already in camp. They are joined by goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo. Alternate players, goalkeeper Morufa Ademola and forward Gift Monday are present.
Defenders Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie were expected to join the team by Monday afternoon.
The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, will play reigning Olympic champions Canada in a training match in Sevilla on Wednesday, July 17. Canada’s team, which won the gold medal in Tokyo three years ago, triumphed over Sweden 3-2 after a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
In their last appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 2008, the Falcons lost 0-1 to Korea DPR, 0-1 to Germany, and 1-3 to eventual silver medalists Brazil.
Women’s football debuted at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1996. The Super Falcons entered in 2000 in Australia, losing 1-3 to China, winners Norway, and eventual silver medalists USA. Perpetua Nkwocha scored the lone goal against China, while Mercy Akide scored against Norway and the USA.
Nigeria’s best performance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament was in Athens 20 years ago, where the Super Falcons finished in 6th place after being eliminated in the quarter-finals.