THE Super Falcons of Nigeria have begun preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football event with 14 players reporting to their training camp.
The nine-time African champions, who are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, are camping in the city of Jerez de la Frontera outside Sevilla in Spain.
There were 12 players at breakfast today and the Nigeria Football Federation said two more would join the squad later today at the team’s Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort base.
“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,” Super Falcons team administrator Mary Oboduku told thenff.com.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are among the players already in camp, along with 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 also in camp.
Defenders Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie are expected at the team’s hotel later today.
The Super Falcons will face reigning Olympic champions Canada in a friendly in Sevilla on Wednesday, the NFF confirmed.
Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 after a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra-time, to earn the gold medal in Tokyo three years ago.
In their last outing at the Olympics, the Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Korea Democratic People’s Republic, 1-0 to Germany and 3-1 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 debut in 2000 in Australia, where they lost 3-1 each to China, eventual winners Norway and eventual silver medallists USA.
Perpetua Nkwocha scored the goal against China while Mercy Akide was the scorer against both Norway and USA.
Nigeria’s best outing so far at the Olympics women’s football event was in Athens 20 years ago, where the Super Falcons finished in sixth place after exiting the tournament in the quarter-finals.
