THE Super Falcons of Nigeria were beaten 1-0 in their opening Group C match of the women’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics in Bordeaux tonight.
The nine-time African champions put up a brave fight but were undone by a spectacular finish in the first half.
Gabi Nunes scored the only goal of the match in the 37th minute, blasting the ball into the roof of the net from inside the Nigeria box past Chiamaka Nnadozie after the Super Falcons failed to successfully execute an offside trap.
Moments before the goal, Brazil thought they has taken the lead through the legendary Marta, who is playing in her sixth Games, but there was offside in the build-up to her fine strike.
The Super Falcons could have taken the lead after a bright start, with their captain and best player Rasheedat Ajibade setting up a great opportunity.
The Atletico Madrid forward skipped past her marker on the right flank and delivered the perfect cross, which was met by Chinwendu Ihezuo, but Brazil goalkeeper Lorena Leite produced an instinctive save to prevent what looked like a certain goal.
Leite was called into action less than a minute later by a long-range Christy Ucheibe shot, and she was up to the task too.
That was as much as the Super Falcons produced in terms of dangerous attacking situations until late in the game when they piled on the pressure for the equaliser.
Head coach Randy Waldrum rang the changes in the second half, bringing on Esther Okoronkwo for the ineffectual Ihezuo at half-time and Ifeanyi Onumonu and Uchenna Kanu later.
Strangely, African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala was not brought on even as the Super Falcons desperately hunted for the equalising goal.
Brazil held on to their slender advantage despite the substitutions and the Super Falcons will need to get a result against world champions Spain on Monday in Lens.
Spain are on top of the group after a 2-1 victory over Japan earlier in the day.
