Nigeria's Super Falcons seek first win over Japan in Group of Death

Posted : 30 July 2024

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will make a final attempt to qualify for the knockout stage of women's football in the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.

To advance to the quarterfinals for only the second time in history, the Super Falcons will need a miracle supported by resilience and a top-notch performance when they face Japan on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Nigerian time in their Group C match.

The two teams have met three times in previous encounters: on October 6, 2022, Japan won 2-0; on September 26, 2013, Nigeria won by the same margin; and at the 2004 Women's Olympic football event, Nigeria secured a narrow 1-0 victory.

In another Olympic encounter on August 14, 2004 (20 years ago) at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, with Referee Ferreira-James of Guyana in charge and before an audience of 14,126, Delta Queens' Vera Okolo scored in the 55th minute. Vera later parted ways with the NFA due to the soccer ruling body’s refusal to cover her injury treatment costs in Germany.

Japan was the only team Nigeria defeated in Group E after losing to Sweden 1-2, despite Mercy Akide putting Nigeria ahead. Germany rallied to beat Nigeria 2-1 in the quarterfinals, while Japan lost to the USA 1-2, also in the quarterfinals at Thessaloniki. There were three teams in the group then.

Spain defeated Japan 2-1 in their first match of Group C at the Paris Olympics, while Brazil suffered a surprising defeat to Japan. Japan thrashed New Zealand 4-1 on June 3, 2024; hammered Ghana 4-0 on July 13, 2024; and drew 1-1 with Colombia on July 19, 2024.

Nigeria has struggled with missed opportunities, losing its first game to Brazil by a lone goal and suffering a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to world champions Spain in a match where they had chances to make history but missed them.

Nigeria had defeated Cameroon 1-0 on February 26, 2024; narrowly beat South Africa 1-0 at their home ground on April 5; and played to a goalless draw in the return match in Nigeria on April 9, 2024.

If records could automatically win matches, Nigeria’s appearance would be a mere formality, as the country has recently struggled to score, rarely getting more than two goals in any match.

In terms of football permutations, for Nigeria to qualify for the quarterfinals, they need at least a 3-0 miracle win over Japan without conceding a goal. Additionally, they would need Spain to beat Brazil 1-0.

With this scenario, Nigeria, Brazil, and Japan would each end with 3 points, but Nigeria would place second and qualify based on goal difference, having 3 goals for and 2 against, with a +1 difference. Brazil would be third with 2 goals for and 3 against, with a -1 difference, and Japan would have 3 goals for and 6 against, with a -3 difference. Spain would lead with 9 points, 4 goals for, and 1 against, with a +3 goal difference. Great dreams!

Thus, the final Group C matches will be played simultaneously on Wednesday, July 31, at 4 p.m. Nigerian time, with Nigeria facing Japan at Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, and Brazil playing Spain at Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux.

Zambia, the other African team, is technically out of Group B, placing 4th with zero points, having scored 5 goals and conceded 9. Meanwhile, the USA has 6 points, while Germany and Australia each have 3 points. Zambia will face Germany, and the USA will tackle Australia, both matches scheduled for 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Nigeria's Super Falcons seek first win over Japan in Group of Death

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