Today, Wednesday, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will hope to beat Japan to stand any chance of making it to the quarter-final of the Women’s football event at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The West Africans currently sit bottom in Group C after losing 1-0 against Brazil and Spain, respectively in their first two matches.
They have no points and are behind leaders, Spain, who top the group with six points.
Japan sits in second position with three points, while Brazil occupy the third position with three points also after two matches.
Nigeria are now condemned to beat Japan in their final group game, to stand a chance of qualifying to the last-8 as one of best losers in the Women’s football event.
Converting their chances in front of goal is very important when they face Japan as they will also need a lot of goals, coupled with a maximum of three points against the Asian champions.
Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum had already expressed optimistic his team can still earn a berth in the knock-out stage
“The way the matches had gone, we still needed a result against Japan and had the chance of going through, so whether we lose or we draw, we still had the opportunity.
“I think if we beat Japan depending on what happens in Canada’s group since they have got six points,” Waldrum said.
Speaking with newsmen, respected journalist, Femi Fabunmi, said: “Judging by the standard set by the Super Falcons at the last World Cup, they have retrogressed a bit.
“Their performances so far at the Paris Olympics have been below par.
“Their offensive style of play has been practically dodgy.
“They should have at least gotten a draw against Spain having held them for 85th minutes but a few moments of loss of concentration cost them that game,” he said.
When asked if Waldrum’s side can still qualify to the quarter-final when they face Japan in their last Group game on Wednesday, Fabunmi added, “All the Falcons need to do is to try and defeat Japan in the last group game, then the last 8 will be sure for them.
“They can still qualify because there are 12 teams in the female category, six will automatically qualify and two 3rd best placed teams will make it to the quarter-final.”
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