By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 8, 2024

Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, says the team is motivated to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after the team’s 1-0 win over rivals South Africa in the first leg of their final qualifier, The PUNCH reports.

Nigeria is looking to make a return to the Olympics after a 16-year absence, having last featured in the women’s football event at the Olympics in Beijing 2008.

The Falcons put themselves in a commanding position after claiming a slender victory over Banyana Banyana in the first leg played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, with Ajibade scoring from the spot to hand her side the lead ahead of the reverse fixture in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Atlético Madrid forward Ajibade said the Falcons are motivated to qualify for the

She said, “We are not under any illusions. It is going to be a big and tough fight. For us, we have 90 minutes standing between us and the long-elusive ticket to the Olympics and we will give it our all.

“We want Nigerians to believe in the Super Falcons. The players are motivated by the keen desire to play in the Olympics. Personally, I have played at every tournament you can think of, except the Olympics. The time to do it is now.”

She added, “At the end of the day, the grass will be green and it will be 11 players against 11 players. We are ready.”

Ahead of the daunting challenge that awaits the Falcons at the 51,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie said the 11-time African champions were used to big occasions.

“The Super Falcons are used to big battles. This one will not be any different. Australia were playing in their home ground at the World Cup but we defeated them.”

Randy Waldrum and his team departed Nigeria for South Africa on Sunday.

They are scheduled to have their official training at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium by 6:30pm today.

The Confederation of African Football again picked North African referees for the second leg match, with Tunisian Dorsaf Ganouati as referee and her compatriots Houda Afine and Emna Ajbouni as first assistant and fourth official respectively. Egyptian Yara Atef Said Abdelfattah will be second assistant referee.

 Agar Mezing from Cameroon is the referees assessor, while Cindy Dludlu from e-Swatini is match commissioner.

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 8, 2024

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