By

Eniola Olatunji

The Falcons of Nigeria were on Wednesday night made ordinary with High Tech display of the Japanese Women that slaughtered the African Champions 3-1 in their last Group C match played at Stade de la Beaujoire.

The Japanese babes were so clinical at goal in the first half scoring thrice from four shots on target and Nigeria after usual timid moves in front of goal got their only goal of the tournament also in the first half.

Chelsea Forward, Maika Hamano got a loose ball and scored from the 6 yard box in the 22nd minute; Utah Royals FC of USA player, Mina Tanaka scored Japan’s 2nd goal exactly 10 minutes after the first one to put Nigeria under severe pressure before Christy Ucheibe found Jennifer Echegini to score Nigeria’s only Paris Olympic goal in the 42nd minute. A superb free kick resulting from Oluwatosin Demehin foul kick taken by Albirex Niigata FC player, Hikaru Kitagawa finally pushed the Falcons out through the exit door via 3-1 score board.

The Japanese dropped their guard in the 2nd half but still were given a penalty caused by Nigeria’s Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade by Ref Emikar Calderas of Venezuela but VAR overturned it.

Spain also on Wednesday night spanked the Samba girls of Brazil 2-0 at Stade de Bordeux in their 2nd defeat as Japan had earlier drilled the girls in the tournament. That meant Spain got full 9 points to lead Group C; Japan had 6 points; Brazil had 3 points and may still be lucky losers for the quarterfinals.    

Nigeria and Japan women met three times on 6th October 2022 and Japan won 2-0; earlier on 26th September 2013 Nigeria won by the same margin but at the 2004 Women Olympic football Nigeria ran away with a lone goal victory.

In that Olympic match played on 14th August 2004 (20 years ago) at Karaiskatis Stadium in Piraeus of Greece with Ref Ferreira-James of Guyana in charge and before an audience of 14,126, Delta Queens Vera Okolo born in 1985 scored in the 55th minute. Vera later fell apart from NFA because of the soccer ruling body’s refusal to foot her injury treatment bill in Germany.

Japan was the only country Nigeria defeated in Group E for she lost to Sweden 1-2 for which the opening goal scored there was by Mercy Akide. Germany dismissed Nigeria 2-1 in Petras in the quarterfinal and Japan lost to USA 1-2 also in the quarterfinal at Thessaloniki. There were three teams in a group then.

Spain spanked Japan 2-1 in the first match of Group C at the Paris Olympics and Brazil got a shocker bowing to the Martial Arts specialist country of Japan.  Japan thrashed New Zealand 4-1 on 3rd June 2024; hammered Ghana 4-0 on 13th July 2024 and played 1-1 with Columbia on 19th July 2024.

However in Group B same Wednesday night Germany hit Zambia 4-1 and USA slammed Australia 2-1. USA topped Group B with 9 points; Germany is 2nd with 6 points and Australia is 3rd with 3 points while Zambia the other African entry is out having no point like Nigeria.

Highest scorers of the tournament you will not believe is Africa’s Barbara Banda of Zambia who scored 4 goals. Others are Maria – Antoinette Katoto of France and Mallory Swanson of USA who scored 3 goals each. Six times African player of the year Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria shot blank at the tournament.

The outlook of the quarterfinals is there awaiting ongoing Group A fixtures. Brazil will play the winner of Group A at Nantes in the 1st Quarters; Spain will engage the choice 3rd place holder from Group A/B in the 2nd quarters at Deicines-Charpieu; United States will tackle the highly computerized Japanese women in Paris while Germany will test their machine against the Runner-up of Group A in Marseille all on Saturday 3rd August.

As at half time in Group A, Colombia and Canada were still goalless while France and New Zealand was 1-1 draw. If they all end like that which is mere speculation, Colombia will top Group A with 4 points; France will be 2nd with 4 points also; Canada will be 3rd with 1 point and New Zealand will be 4th also with 1 point. 

The speculated Group A result will mean Australia with 3 points will play in the quarterfinal against Spain and Columbia will meet Germany and France will meet France.

Semifinal matches will take place on 6th August at Marseille and Decines-Charpieu; Decines will still host the battle for the Bronze medal on Friday 9th August while the final will be played in the French capital of Paris on Saturday 9th August.