By

Eniola Olatunji

The Super Falcons of Nigeria were on Sunday at the Stade de la Beaujoire Nantes shoved towards the Exit Door of the 2024 Paris Olympics Women Football by world Champions, La Roja of Spain in a late goal drama winning by a lone goal.

The Super Falcons had sustained a goalless first half but the pressure from the 60th minute of play when Spain played virtually in Nigeria’s half was overwhelming. Nigeria’s Head Coach, Randy Waldrum sat like an effigy not offering solution of how the Super Falcons could fly above their Spanish created mountain with 2003 Ballon d’or winner Bonmati as tormentor in chief.
 
The Nigerian defence ballooned the ball in every direction waiting to end the game goalless when Spain got a free kick 25 meters away and Alexia Putellas kicked the ball beyond Chiamaka Nnadozie who lost momentary concentration in the game at 85th minute for the much coveted goal.

Spain had gotten a lead in the 53rd minute when Paralluelo eventually scored from a corner kick from the barrage of their earned corner kicks which Ref Rebecca Welch from England had approved but VAR nullified it as off side.

Spain dominated Nigeria statistically with 7-1 shots on target; 10-2 shots off target; 5-1 blocked shots; 77-23% ball possession; 15-1 corner kicks; only yellow card went to Oshoala so it was Nnadozie’s day to save Nigeria from National calamity with 6 saves to Spain’s only one save and Nigeria had 16-2 Goal kicks. 

Spain had in the first match of this Group C beaten Japan 2-1 and Brazil piped Nigeria by a lone goal. Spain leads Group C with 6 points while Japan that earlier beat Brazil shared 3 points each and Nigeria faces great difficulty to move into the knockout stages as she is yet to get a win.

Spain ranked number 1 in the world and Nigeria ranked 36, had never met at any International women level but met twice at U20 level with Nigeria winning that of 20th November 2016 2-1 at World Cup round 3; at the same level, Spain defeated Nigeria by the same margin on 16th August 2018 at the world cup quarterfinal.

On paper Nigeria is it because Spain was appearing at the Olympics women football for the first time whereas Nigeria is making her 3rd appearance with a quarterfinal outing at the 2004 Summer Olympics where she lost to Germany 1-2 at Patras on 20th August.

That was history because Spain defeated England 1-0 to lift the world cup last year when Australia and New Zealand hosted. England had eliminated Nigeria via penalty shootout at the Round of 16 in that tournament.  Spain UEFA women Champions thrice in 2013; 2017 and 2022 and lost the semifinal to place 3rd in 1997. She is also the current holder of the UEFA Women Nation’s League.

Spain had slaughtered Slovania 17-0 at Palamos, Spain on 20th March 1994 for her biggest win but woefully lost 0-8 to Sweden at Gandia, Spain on 2nd June 1996.

Apart from the already stated exploits of the Super Falcons at the world Cup and at the Olympics, she has been eleven times African Champions winning in 1991; 1995; 1998; 2000; 2002; 2004; 2006; 2010; 2014; 2016 and 2018.

Nigeria’s biggest win was a 15-0 Republic in Ivory Coast on 11th May 2019 but three different countries brought down the Falcons 8-0 each with Norway in Sweden on 6th June 1995; Germany at Leverkusen on 26th November 2010 and France at Le Mans on 6th April 2018. 
 
Japan earlier shocked Brazil at the Parc des Princes, Paris shocked the Samba girls of Brazil with a 2-1 win in their both goals scored via penalty kicks.

30 year old Mina Tanaka had lost a penalty for Japan in 45+2nd of the first half but Jheniffer scored for Brazil in the 56th minute before Central Defender, Saki Kumagai equalized and FC Rosengard of Sweden Forward, 19 year old Moriya Tanikawa who came in as a substitute for Moriya Miyabi pulled the Brazilians down with another Penalty kick in 90+6th minute.

Japan had 6-4 shots on target; 6-3 shots off target but Brazil had greater control of the game through ball possession 58-42% yet the Japanese got 6-3 corner kicks, had three goal bound shots blocked when Brazil had no shots blocked but had 9-5 goal kicks. Two cautions were given Brazil while only one went to Japan. 

The last Group C matches will be played simultaneously on Wednesday 31st July at 4pm Nigerian time where Nigeria will meet Japan and the Samba girls of Brazil will tackle Spain.

Colombia defeated New Zealand 2-0 in Group A to await the result of France versus Canada to be played at 8pm. That shoots Colombia to the top of the group with France each on 3 points while New Zealand and Canada are yet to garner any point.

Zambia lost a fantastic opportunity at full match point losing a 4-2 lead to throw away the match at 5-6 in Group B. USA and Germany were in a shake up as at the time of filing this report. Germany, USA and Australia now has 3 points each making it obvious that Zambia should go ahead and book their flight back to Lusaka with a no point stand.