Nigeria’s Super Falcons have started their training camp in Jerez de la Frontera, near Sevilla, for their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years. Fourteen players are now in camp as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Team Administrator Mary Oboduku reported that the camp is calm and the players are enthusiastic. “We started training on Sunday, and the players are in very high spirits as they look forward to the tournament in France,” she said.
The team, staying at Hotel Barceló Montecastillo Golf and Resort, had 12 players at breakfast on Monday, with two more expected by the afternoon. Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are leading the squad. Other key players in camp include goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo. Alternate players goalkeeper Morufa Ademola and forward Gift Monday have also joined the team.
Defenders Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie were expected to arrive at the hotel on Monday afternoon.
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The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, last competed in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in China in 2008. They will play reigning Olympic champions Canada in a training match in Sevilla on Wednesday, July 17th. Canada won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, defeating Sweden 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.
In their last Olympic appearance, the Falcons lost 0-1 to Korea DPR, 0-1 to Germany, and 1-3 to Brazil, who went on to win silver.
Women’s football was introduced at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1996. The Super Falcons first competed in the 2000 Olympics in Australia, where they lost to China, Norway, and the USA. Nigeria’s best performance was in Athens 2004, where they reached the quarter-finals and finished in 6th place.
The Super Falcons are determined to make a strong comeback in Paris, and their training camp in Spain marks the beginning of their preparations for the upcoming tournament.