By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Super Falcons have another chance to settle scores with Nadeshiko when Nigeria takes on Japan in the final Group C match of the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament billed for Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Wednesday.
With elimination starring in the face, Nigeria without a win or point after losing two matches against Brazil and Spain will fight the Asian giants for the full three points plus two goals without conceeding to have any chance of qualifying for the quarter-final stage.
Both countries know each other well enough and have triumphed over each other at different times and are poised to test their might again when they face off in Nantes tomorrow although Japan has an edge over Nigeria based on current form.
The last time Nigeria and Japan met was in a friendly match at Noevir Stadium Kobe on October 6, 2022 and two second half goals scored by Mina Tanaka in the 64′ and assisted by Hara Naomoto and 68′ penalty goal ensured that the visitors returned to Nigeria empty-handed.
Before then Japan fell hard to the Super Falcons in Athens 2004 Olympic Football Tournament tie in Piraeus, Greece, when petite Vera Okolo’s strike was the only goal of the match and earned Nigeria all three points.
Interestingly, the win, which also handed the Super Falcons their only quarter-final berth at the Olympics Women’s Football Tournament so far, has also remained the only victory the nine-time African champions have celebrated.
But if the Super Falcons want a repeat of the feat achieved by the Class of 2004, they have to raise their game higher than how they played against Brazil and Spain in the previous matches in Bordeaux and Nantes especially in the match against La Roja which they lost at the dying minutes.
Ballon d’Or winner and FC Barcelona femeni star, Alexia Putellas’ 85′ free-kick clinched a narrow win over Nigeria on Sunday and the Super Falcons now need to beat Japan on tomorrow by at least 2 goals margin to stand a chance of making it to the next round.
Again, Nigeria must improve on all departments of the game as a momentary loss of concentration by goalkeeper Chiamaka Cynthia Nnadozie ensured that Putellas’s free-kick sailed into the net.
Specifically, match statistics showed that Spain was clearly ahead of Nigeria in Possession (67-33); Shots on goal (7-2); Corner Kicks (15-1) amongst others.
Sadly, after losing two matches, Nigeria seats rock bottom on the log with Spain setting the pace in Group C with 6pts (+2GD) and has already qualified for the quarter-final stage. Japan is second on the log with 3pts (0GD) and also Brazil with 3pts (0GD) just as Nigeria has two goal deficit (-2GD)and now needs to fire on all cylinders on Wednesday because anything contrary is spell doom for the team.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has another opportunity to redeem his image by setting up his team in the best way to grind out victory of any colour in the clash against Japan because the failure of Nigeria to progress to the next round in the Olympics.
With his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) running out next month, the result of the match against Japan will determine if his employers will give him a new contract at the expiration of the current one.
Unfortunately, Super Falcons under Waldrum are not a high-scoring team as the results of their last seven matches showed that Nigeria scored a paltry two goals, won two games, drew two and lost three matches in a row. READ ALSO:
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They are loses to Canada in pre-Olympics international friendly a fortnight ago, Brazil and Spain in Group C, a situation which has made it tough to bet on the outcome of the make or break tie against Japan on Wednesday in Nantes.
Perhaps, the Super Falcons will be told to convert chances that come their way as they have shown that they can create few chances but have failed to take them especially in the two previous matches against Brazil and Spain.
The Japanese are beatable and the Super Falcons know it but the Nadeshiko can be a tough nut to crack with their dominant play and possession football which helped them to beat Brazil the last time out.
Can Super Falcons beat Japan? Time will tell.
