2024 PARIS OLYMPICS | NIGERIA VS BRAZIL PREVIEW |SUPER FALCONS AIMING TO CAUSE UPSETS IN FRANCE
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will on Thursday 25th of July begin their first Olympic game campaign after sixteen years with a duel against the ‘talented’ Brazil women’s football national team.
The nine-time African Champions are drawn in Group C which many consider as the most exciting and toughest group at the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Football.
Suffice it to say that, there is nowhere for teams to hide when it comes to women’s Olympic soccer, but Group C is incredibly tough for the talent and experience it packs even by the tournament’s standards.
World champions Spain are the headliners, having picked up their first piece of silverware at the 2023 World Cup, and have continued to flex their muscles in recent months despite upheaval off the pitch. La Roja will be favourites to go all the way in France, but history is not on their side, as no team has ever won the World Cup and Olympic gold in successive years.
Japan came into the Olympics in good form and could surprise a few, as they did at the World Cup, but their place in the knockouts could come down to their match against Brazil.
The two sides have met for three friendlies over the past nine months, with each claiming a win before a draw at the SheBelieves Cup in April.
Africa’s most successful women’s team, Nigeria, round out the quartet.
Although their record at Olympic tournaments isn’t glittering, the Super Falcons turned heads at the World Cup and played smart football to shock multiple teams en route to a penalty shootout loss to England in the round of 16.
Nigeria are not a team to take lightly, but they haven’t been setting the world alight in recent games and could be viewed as fodder for the other three nations.
That sums up how exciting Group C is.
Having said that, the Super Falcons will begin their campaign against Brazil on Thursday, 25 July at the Stade de Bordeaux, France before engaging Spain and Japan on Sunday 28, and 31 July respectively at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes.
Amazing fixtures we’ve got at hand at this year’s Women’s Olympic Soccer.
Ok guys, let’s get into the business with both teams’ Olympic history.
The Nigeria vs. Brazil matchup in the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football tournament is set to be an exhilarating encounter. Both teams boast a rich history of talent and competitive spirit, making this fixture one of the highlights of the group stage.
Team Preview
Nigeria’s women’s team, known as the Super Falcons, are renowned for their athleticism, speed, and attacking prowess. They play an energetic and physical game, with a focus on quick transitions and exploiting their opponents’ weaknesses.
Brazil’s women’s team, known as the Seleção, are celebrated for their technical skills, flair, and attacking style. They emphasize ball control, quick passing, and creative playmaking, making them a formidable opponent.
The Super Falcons will be returning to compete for the fourth time since they last played in the Women’s Olympic Soccer in Beijing in 2008.
Before that they qualified twice for the Games in Sydney in 2000 and in the Athens Games in 2004 where they secured better results – the quarterfinal finish, the best tournament showing recorded by an African nation to date.
Nigeria Super Falcons are the most successful women’s team in Africa, winning nine WAFCON titles.
Brazil: Competed at the Games 4 times, finished 2nd on two occasions and 4th in the last two editions.
Brazil won the silver medal twice in the Olympic Games, in 2004 and 2008. The South American nation has twice competed at the Games but fallen at the first hurdle on both occasions. They finished in fourth place in the two previous editions.
Brazil is the most successful women’s national team in South America, having won eight out of the nine editions of the Copa América championship.
Let’s dive slightly into the two team’s journey during the Olympics qualifying series.
To reach the 2024 edition of the Games, both went through a series of round-robin matches before securing tickets to represent their continents.
The Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after beating rivals, Banyana Banyana of South Africa 1-0 on aggregate.
Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja and that one goal was enough for the Super Falcons to pick one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics as the second leg tie ended goalless in South Africa.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria emerged as one of the seven-seeded teams based on their ranking on the continent, hence began their journey Olympic qualifying series in the 2nd round by demolishing Ethiopia 5-1 on aggregate to move to the 3rd round.
Nigeria went on to beat the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 aggregate, securing a nil victory at the MKO Abiola stadium after a stalemate at Stade de la Reunification in Douala, Cameroon.
The 4th round was completed in a similar fashion as they edged South Africa 1-0 on aggregate.
Brazil Women’s National Team
Brazil secured their qualification an entire two years prior to Paris 2024 when they made it to the Copa América Femenina final in 2022.
Brazil beat Paraguay 2-0 in the semi-finals which saw them progress to the final. Though Brazil emerged victorious with a 2-0 win against Colombia in the final, both teams had already done enough to secure their spot at Paris 2024.
Head-To-Head
Brazil’s Women’s Football team and Nigeria’s Super Falcons have met twice previously, with the Copa America Feminine Champions triumphing on both occasions.
At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Brazil defeated Nigeria 3-1 in the group stage and at the 1999 Women’s World Cup in the USA, Nigeria lost by 4-3 to Brazil.
Team News, Current Form & Last Five Matches
Those were history, let’s now consider the teams’ current form and their last five matches.
Both teams are in top gear for this encounter, with no suspension or injuries. The Nigerian and the Brazilian camps are quite upbeat ahead of the first match as of the time of this preview.
Last Five Matches
Rankings
Brazil are ranked no 9 in the world while Nigeria are ranked 36th as per the latest FIFA Ranking.
Motivation
So much is at stake for both Brazil and Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Aside from securing a knockout stage ticket from the group, Brazil are looking forward to consolidating on their previous record over Nigeria, bettering their previous 4th place Olympic Games records, The South American giants are bidding to make amends for their previous Olympics failures and secure their first gold medal.
Brazil have come close to Olympic glory, securing two silver medals, but have yet to clinch the coveted gold. Adriana and her teammates are determined to change that narrative, and overcoming Nigeria in the opening match would undoubtedly send them on their way.
Nigeria, on the other hand, will be eager to prove their worth against a strong Brazilian side. With a challenging group that also includes reigning world champions Spain and Olympic silver medalists Japan, Randy Waldrum’s side face an uphill battle.
On the other hand, the Super Falcons want to re-write history by securing a first victory over their South American opponents, surpassing their previous Olympic quarter-final records and after 16 years of appearance at the games would like to make a big statement following their impressive outing at the last FIFA women’s world cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Nigeria Squad:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi
Defender: Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala , Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Chinonyerem Macleans, Ifeoma Onumonu
Reserves: Jumoke Alani, Gift Monday, Morufa Ademola, Regina Otu
Brazil Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lorena Gremio, Taina, Tarciane, Rafaelle, Thais Ferreira, Antonia, Tamires, Yasmin
Midfielder Yaya, Duda Sampaio, Ana Vitoria
Forwards: Gabi Portilho, Adriana, Kerolin, Ludmila
Forward Marta, Jhennifer, Gabi Nunes,
Reserves: Luciana, Lauren, Angelina, Priscila
Where will the game be won and lost
Nigeria will leverage their physicality and speed to disrupt Brazil’s possession game. They will look to win the ball quickly and launch fast counter-attacks, using the pace of their forwards to exploit spaces behind Brazil’s defence. Set-pieces will also be an area where Nigeria can pose a significant threat.
Brazil will focus on maintaining possession and dictating the tempo of the game. Their midfield will be crucial in creating scoring opportunities and controlling the flow of the match. Brazil’s attackers will aim to use their technical skills to break down Nigeria’s defence and create clear-cut chances
According to Brazil striker, Adriana, who emphasised the importance of meticulous preparation for the Nigeria game, the encounter would come down to the details. “A detail from a set piece, for example, both in front to score a goal, and in defence to prevent the opponent’s goal.”
Prediction
This is the most difficult part of any Football preview in a game, especially between two top teams from different continents.
If we consider history, head-to-head, current form and bookmakers’ assertions, it would be easier to give it to the South American Champions, but Football has gone beyond history and bookmakers’ opinions, as difficult as this would be, we see both teams playing out a draw at a probability of 25%, while the chances that Super Falcons will win is also 25% and the chances that Brazil will carry the day is 50%
The Nigeria vs. Brazil matchup in the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football tournament is set to be an exhilarating encounter. Which team are you rooting for?
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