Reigning world champs next up for the Super Falcons

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Jul 27, 2024. 14:00

Nigeria will face the ultimate test at the women’s football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games when they tackle reigning world champions Spain at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on the evening of Sunday 28 July.

Kick-off is at 19:00 CAT.

‘The Super Falcons’ suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Brazil in their Group C opener on Thursday night – though the West Africans put up a battling performance and were arguably unlucky not to come away with at least a point.

Yet much of the debate in the wake of the result was the decision of coach Randy Waldrum to bench star forward Asisat Oshoala, who did not even get a substitute appearance when the team was chasing a way back into the game.

Whether the 29-year-old makes her way back into the starting XI for the match against Spain is set to be a driving narrative heading into this clash against the 2023 World Cup winners.

‘La Roja’, meanwhile, claimed a hard-earned 2-1 win over Japan, coming from a goal down to secure the victory thanks to goals from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. They are level with Brazil at the top of the group and looking for a positive result to effectively secure progression into the next round.

In head-to-head stats, this will be the first meeting of Spain and Nigeria in a competitive women’s fixture.

The match will be refereed by American Tori Penso, with the other Group C fixture between Brazil and Japan being played earlier on Sunday in Paris.