After missing three consecutive editions of the Olympics (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020), Nigeria’s Super Falcons will return to the Games in Paris 2024.
The nine-time African champions are drawn in Group C with reigning women’s World Cup champion Spain, 2011 world champion Japan, and two-time Olympic silver medalist Brazil (2004, 2008).
In this piece, Completesports.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI takes a look at the Super Falcons’ past Olympic Games outings ahead of their Paris 2024 assignment.
CHINA 3-1 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Sydney 2000 Olympic Games)
The Super Falcons’ first-ever match at the Olympics was a group fixture against China at the Sydney 2000 games.
The Chinese, who won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and also finished runners-up at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeated the Falcons 3-1.
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Former African Women’s Player of the Year, Perpetua Nkwocha, scored the Falcons’ goal via a penalty in the 85th minute to make it 3-1.
NORWAY 3-1 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Sydney 2000 Olympic Games)
In their second group game at Sydney 2000 against Norway, the Falcons fell to another 3-1 defeat with the first African Women’s Player of the Year, Mercy Akide, scoring for the Falcons.
Akide pulled a goal back for the Falcons in the 78th minute, bringing the score to 2-1 before the Norwegians netted a 90th-minute goal to secure the win.
Norway went on to win the gold medal after scoring a golden goal to beat the USA 2-1 in the final.
USA 3-1 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Sydney 2000 Olympic Games)
In their final group game, the Falcons once again lost 3-1, this time to the USA, with Akide bagging her second goal of the tournament.
With the USA 2-0 ahead, Akide scored in the 48th minute to make it 2-1, only for the Americans to add a third in the 56th minute to wrap up the game.
JAPAN 0-1 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Athens 2004 Olympic Games)
The Falcons were back at the Olympics, this time at the Athens 2004 games, where they were grouped with Japan and Sweden.
Competing countries were divided into three groups: two groups contained three teams, and one had four teams.
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In their opening group game against Japan, the Falcons recorded their first and only win at the Olympics, thanks to a 1-0 victory.
The only goal of the game was scored by Vera Okolo in the 55th minute off an assist from Nkwocha.
SWEDEN 2-1 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Athens 2004 Olympic Games)
Against Sweden in their second group game, the Falcons lost 2-1 despite Akide giving them the lead in the 25th minute.
While Sweden and the Falcons qualified for the quarter-finals as first and second respectively, Japan also progressed to the knockout round as the best third-placed team.
GERMANY 2-1 NIGERIA (Quarter-finals: Athens 2004 Olympic Games)
In the quarter-finals, the Falcons were drawn against Germany and lost 2-1, with Akide grabbing her second goal of the games.
Akide had put the Falcons 1-0 up in the 49th minute before Germany fought back to score in the 76th and 81st minutes.
NORTH KOREA 1-0 NIGERIA (Group Stage: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
The Falcons went to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with the hope of improving on their quarter-finals finish in 2004. But it was a disappointing outing as they lost all three of their group games to North Korea, Germany, and Brazil.
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Their opening game was against North Korea, which the Asians won 1-0 thanks to a 27th-minute goal.
NIGERIA 0-1 GERMANY (Group Stage: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
For the second time at the Olympics, the Falcons faced Germany and yet again were on the losing side.
After a battling first half, which ended 0-0, the Germans eventually found the breakthrough in the 65th minute to record their first win in the group.
NIGERIA 1-3 BRAZIL (Group Stage: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
The Falcons took on Brazil in their final group game of Beijing 2008 and lost 3-1 with a Cristiane first-half hat-trick for the South Americans.
Nkwocha gave the Falcons the lead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute, which they couldn’t hold on to.
Brazil and Germany qualified from the group and went on to win silver and bronze respectively.
1 Comment
Simply put,
Goals for: 7
Goals against: 18
Wins: 1
Defeats: 8
Falcons class of 2024 should not be “arrogant” so that they can spring more surprises.
They can make history this time if they don’t stroll into camp hours to game day unlike their proud, incompetent, unserious, egotistical male counterparts buoyed by an inefficient NFF waiting for 3 days to AFCON 2025 qualifiers to announce a coach for their rudderless Eagles, which even some national papers now add “without being Super”.
Ironically, it’s the female teams which are least paid that are turning heads.