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After 2 defeats to Brazil and Spain, here is the time and where to watch the Super Falcons of Nigeria take on the Nadeshiko of Japan in a must-win 3rd Paris 2024 Olympics game.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will have a difficult time making it to the Olympics' knockout stages in Paris in 2024.
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07:40 - 30.07.2024
Japan vs Nigeria: Randy to make new changes, Super Falcons' possible lineup against former world No. 3
Nigeria need to defeat Japan to keep her Olympic dreams alive but will need to be clinical in front of goal.
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21:01 - 28.07.2024
Paris 2024: What Super Falcons need to qualify after Spain loss
Nigeria's Super Falcons put themselves in a tough spot after the 1-0 defeat to Spain but all hope is not lost.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be chasing their first points against Japan in the 2024 Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
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18:50 - 27.07.2024
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade vows to take chances against Spain
Super Falcons of Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade vows to take chances against Spain after loss to Brazil in Paris 2024 Olympics opener.
Super Falcons lose to Spain
It is commendable that the nine-time African champions managed to hold out against world champions Spain for eighty-five minutes before giving up the one goal that gave the Europeans the victory in Nantes.
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As was to be predicted, Spain controlled the ball, and the Falcons' outstanding defense kept them to just an odd-goal victory.
The Falcons were dangerous when breaking the rules at times during the game. One such instance was in the 23rd minute when Esther Okoronkwo latched on to a pass from Ajibade and the goalie parried her effort.
In the 85th minute, the ever-present Putellas scored the winning goal by heaving the ball past Nnadozie directly from a free-kick on the left side of the Nigerian defense.
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After losing, the Falcons are on the verge of elimination from the competition.
To have any hope of making it to the quarterfinals, they must defeat Japan at the same location.
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Japan beat Brazil
In their second group game, Japan overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Brazil thanks to two goals in injury time, including a spectacular goal by Momoko Tanikawa in the 96th minute.
After Jhennifer gave Brazil the lead early in the second half, Japan, the runner-up in the 2012 Olympics, was looking at a second consecutive loss in Group C that would have put it at grave risk of losing in the first round.
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At the Parc des Princes in Paris, however, captain Saki Kumagai scored a penalty kick in the 92nd minute to equalize before replacement Tanikawa, then 19 years old, produced an amazing first-time effort from 30 meters that went over the goalkeeper and in for the victory.
Super Falcons of Nigeria preview
The nine-time African champions Nigeria last participated in the 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament in China.
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Any team can have an impact at the Olympics, and many people predicted ahead of time that Nigeria's Super Falcons would pose a challenge to every team in Group C.
This was a result of their World Cup campaign, in which they lost to England on penalties despite defeating Australia and drawing with both Canada and the Republic of Ireland.
Twenty years ago in Athens, Nigeria's most successful Women's Olympic Football Tournament performance came from the Super Falcons, who finished sixth after falling in the quarterfinals.
This time around, they run the risk of not making it out of their group.
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Super Falcons of Nigeria Olympic 2024 team
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi.
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke.
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne.
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Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Chinonyerem Macleans.
Nadeshiko of Japan preview
On their sixth try, Japan is hoping to complete winning all six women's football titles in Paris.
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They are the only footballing nation, along with Spain, to have won all three peaks of FIFA's female football mountain, but they haven't been able to replicate that success at the Olympics.
Japan has an abundance of offensive skill, but they mostly rely on their two or three wing-backs—Miyabi Moriya, Hana Takahashi, and/or Risa Shimizu—to play a major role in their assaults.
Aoba Fujino, Hinata Miyazawa, and Mina Tanaka are among the threatening players in the last third.
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They have experience playing together as Eight members of Futoshi Ikeda's team were there at the Tokyo Games four years ago, when Nadeshiko successfully made it out of the group stage before losing to Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Nadeshiko of Japan Squad
Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita, Chika Hirao.
Defenders: Saki Kumagai, Risa Shimizu, Moeka Minami, Hana Takahashi, Hikaru Kitagawa, Toko Koga.
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Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa, Kiko Seike, Honoka Hayashi, Fuka Nagano, Hinata Miyazawa, Aoba Fujino, Momoko Tanikawa.
Forwards: Mina Tanaka, Riko Ueki, Maika Hamano.
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How Super Falcons can qualify from Olympic group
The Super Falcons still have optimism despite these depressing outcomes.
They still have a chance to be among the top three teams from the group stage, but it will take a strong victory over Japan in their last match.
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To be more precise, they must win by a minimum of two goals in order to be eligible to move on to the next round.
Japan's 2-1 victory over Brazil provides them 3 points and a goal difference of zero, thus they must not only win but also eliminate the goal differential.
Nigeria could advance as one of the top third-place teams if they win by two goals or more; if they win by less, they'll probably be eliminated from the competition.
History Nigeria vs Japan
The Super Falcons believe they can make the necessary progress in the Women's Football Tournament of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics after suffering close losses in their previous two games.
On Wednesday, they defeated Japan handily at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, though they will enter as one of the two best third-place teams.
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In a 2004 Women's Olympic Football Tournament encounter in Piraeus, Greece, Japan was soundly defeated by the Super Falcons thanks to a goal by Vera Okolo that gave Nigeria all three points. It was the only goal of the game.
The nine-time African champions have only experienced one Olympic triumph total since they began competing 24 years ago, and that victory also earned the Super Falcons their lone quarterfinal spot in the competition thus far.
Time and where Super Falcons of Nigeria vs Japan
The game between Nigeria and Japan will take place at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, in France on Wednesday July, 31 2024.
The game will kick off at 4 PM Nigerian time and will be available on Supersport.
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