Nigeria suffered a 1-0 loss to Brazil in the opening match of their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux on Thursday.
Having avoided a defeat in their last eight competitive fixture, the Super Falcons of Nigeria started the game brightly against the Brazilians. The first chance of the game fell to Christy Ucheibe who sent her header wide before Chinwendu Ihezuo’s strike was saved by Lorena da Silva.
The Falcons continued to press and soon got another opportunity through captain Rasheedat Ajibade, but the 27-year-old was also denied, moments before Brazil took control of the game.
Six-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Marta Vieira was the first to find the back of the net, but her goal was disallowed for offside. Barely fourteen seconds later, the 38-year-old assisted Gabi Nunes who struck her effort well out of the reach of Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 37th minute.
The remainder of the first half saw Brazil control the game’s tempo, as the Falcons looked lost in their momentary lack of concentration that allowed the South Americans to score twice under 15 seconds.
Though Randy Waldrum made an early change that saw Ihezuo make way for Esther Okoronkwo ahead of the second half, the Falcons’ struggles continued well into the half. Uchenna Kanu, Onumonu Ifeoma and Toni Payne were all later introduced to improve the Falcons’ wastefulness and poor hold play, Brazil held on to the lead to seal a deserved victory.
The win takes Brazil’s record to two Olympic wins over Nigeria, following their 3-1 victory in the group stage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Up next for Nigeria is a trip to Nantes to face Spain in a must-win game on Sunday, July 28. The World champions currently lead Group C having secured a 2-1 victory over Japan earlier on Thursday.
Having avoided a defeat in their last eight competitive fixture, the Super Falcons of Nigeria started the game brightly against the Brazilians. The first chance of the game fell to Christy Ucheibe who sent her header wide before Chinwendu Ihezuo’s strike was saved by Lorena da Silva.
The Falcons continued to press and soon got another opportunity through captain Rasheedat Ajibade, but the 27-year-old was also denied, moments before Brazil took control of the game.
Six-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Marta Vieira was the first to find the back of the net, but her goal was disallowed for offside. Barely fourteen seconds later, the 38-year-old assisted Gabi Nunes who struck her effort well out of the reach of Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 37th minute.
The remainder of the first half saw Brazil control the game’s tempo, as the Falcons looked lost in their momentary lack of concentration that allowed the South Americans to score twice under 15 seconds.
Though Randy Waldrum made an early change that saw Ihezuo make way for Esther Okoronkwo ahead of the second half, the Falcons’ struggles continued well into the half. Uchenna Kanu, Onumonu Ifeoma and Toni Payne were all later introduced to improve the Falcons’ wastefulness and poor hold play, Brazil held on to the lead to seal a deserved victory.
The win takes Brazil’s record to two Olympic wins over Nigeria, following their 3-1 victory in the group stage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Up next for Nigeria is a trip to Nantes to face Spain in a must-win game on Sunday, July 28. The World champions currently lead Group C having secured a 2-1 victory over Japan earlier on Thursday.
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