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Nigeria will make her first appearance in the Olympic Games, Women’s football event after 16 years (four editions), when the Super Falcons file out against Brazil’s As Canarinhas inside Stade Matmut-Atlantique, in Bordeaux, later today.
Historically, the Super Falcons as the Nigerian team is known, are Africa’s most successful Women’s football team.
A record nine African Women’s Cup of Nations titles, consecutive World Cup appearances and the factory of some of the Continent’s brightest football talents all rightfully earned the Nation an enviable mention amongst the best in the World.
Deborah Abiodun. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
However and truly, though there’s a global appreciation of its potential, the Nigerian team hasn’t really hit the heights of accomplishments on the World stage.
Their most recent participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup saw the team battle valiantly against an emerging England side, in a blockbuster round of 16 game, eventually decided on penalties.
Nigeria has never gone past the second round of a World Cup tournament (or the Olympics), but the 2023 campaign was particularly impressive because the Super Falcons also did not lose to any of Australia, Canada or Republic of Ireland – all highly ranked sides – in the group stage.
Blessing Demehin and Gift Monda celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Against the Three Lionesses, it came down to just fine margins, but the quality of personnel was also quite evident as England played for over half an hour with 10 players and still held their line.
A gallant performance from both teams, but the Nigerians were the more celebrated and for their American coach, Randy Waldrum, it was a sign of good things to come.
Heading into this Olympic Games, Waldrum has kept faith with the core of his squad from Australia & New Zealand, bar Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde who were left out due to fitness concerns.
It is this pragmatic approach of the 67 year-old Coach that seems to have endeared the Super Falcons yet again to their teeming fans back home.
Accomplishing their qualification for this Olympic Games after several near misses and heartbreaks, Waldrum and his team sealed the trip to Paris with victory against arch rivals, South Africa, and it was both icing & cherry on the cake.
Yet, like the World Cup this team must again navigate very murky waters to truly earn the respect of their contemporaries.
Housed in group C along with Brazil, current world champions Spain, and Japan, presents a different kind of challenge for the Super Falcons.
Indeed the underdog, Nigeria’s chances of emerging from the group is a 0.001 xP, yet it is this narrative the team needs to show how it is progressing – when continuity is a deliberate policy.
With a record of only two defeats in their last 16 games, where they also conceded only 6 goals (in regular or extra time), the team has built a reputation for focus and discipline, as well as team work. These are crucial qualities that could make the difference against their group opponents, but also importantly elevate the players, who seem to have bought in on Waldrum’s strategy and management style.
Albeit trivial, the Ladies exude that confidence even in their social media posts as they endeavor to interact with fans and continue to build on the image of a team that was once tainted by reports of in-fighting among subgroups, the sit-in protest against the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid bonuses and player intimidation.
This new phase of the Super Falcons both on and off the pitch is a credit to Waldrum and other leaders in the locker room, who seem to prioritize group objectives and standard practice.
Randy Waldrum speaks with his Super Falcons players. Photo | Twitter (NGSuper_Falcons)
These new found values, however little, will reflect positively on the NFF and by extension Team Nigeria, from a keen fan’s perspective as we countdown to the Games’ opening.
In conclusion, there’s optimism and expectation from the fans, that a 16-year absence can only make the Ladies hungry for more success.
A sentiment echoed by Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala, who also projected on the eve of Nigeria’s opening game, that a spot on the podium might not be an impossible dream after all.
Asisat Oshoala celebrates after scoring Nigeria’s third goal. (Photo by Chris Hyde – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
