The Paris 2024 Olympic Games begins today with football and rugby sevens taking centre stage. Nigeria, represented by Super Falcons in women’s football, will start its campaign in Group C against Brazil in Bordeaux.

Brazil is one of the teams tipped for a medal in women’s football, but the Super Falcons say that they are also in contention for the podium, a point that they must prove in today’s game against the Samba Girls.

To unsettle the Brazilians’ game plan, the Super Falcons are said to be targeting an early goal in the encounter, which they hope will jolt the South American giants, and help them to set the stage for the teams’ other games against Japan and Spain.

The Nigerians are seeking a historic victory against the Brazilians, as the two previous matches between both sides ended in defeat for the Super Falcons.

In their first encounter at USA ’99 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals stage, the Super Falcons agonisingly lost 4-3 on the golden goal rule, having rallied back from a 0-3 deficit in regulation time.

The Brazilians also won 3-1 in the group stage of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China.

The Guardian learned, yesterday, that the coach Randy Waldrum’s game plan is to unleash an all-attacking formation against the Brazilians to get early goals to unsettle their opponents.

The Samba ladies, who are parading one of the oldest strikers in world football, Marta, last week boasted that they would blow off the Super Falcons today to pave the way for their qualification for the second round from Group C.

On the other hand, the Super Falcons need to make a bold statement by securing at least a point in this game before facing world champions, Spain, and former world champions, Japan in their other Group C fixtures.

The Super Falcons’ best Olympic outing was at Athens 2004 where they lost 2-1 to a Birgit Prinz-inspired Germany in the quarterfinals.

While the ladies failed to qualify for the last three editions of the Olympic Games, the Brazilians have been constant participants, winning silver at the 2004 and 2008 editions.

Speaking on the importance of the match, Brazilian forward Adriana Leal De Silva, said little details would be key, as every first match in a tournament is always crucial.

“A detail from a set piece, for example, whether it’s to score a goal or to prevent the opposing team from scoring. Therefore, we must pay as much attention as possible. This first game is crucial. It will always be like this. We need to have much concentration and focus for this debut and take it step-by-step,” she said.

The Brazilian revealed that they had studied the videotape of Super Falcons goalkeeper Chidozie Nnamaka and that their strikers will have no problem in converting their chances today.

While Brazil won nine of their 11 matches coming into this fixture, the Super Falcons are undefeated in their last eight competitive matches. But they lost 0-1 to Canada in their last warm-up game in preparation for the Paris Olympics.

The clash will kick-off at 6.00 p.m. (The Guardian)

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