Nigeria will look for an upset win when they open their Group C campaign at the Olympic Games with a clash against Brazil, set for Stade de Bordeaux on the evening of Thursday 25 July.
Kick-off is at 7pm CAT.
Nigeria will be making their fourth appearance in the Women’s Football tournament at the Olympics and returning for the first time since Beijing 2008. The Super Falcons’ best showing was in 2004 when they reached the quarterfinals, while in 2000 and 2008 they were eliminated in the group stage.
The West African heavyweights, who secured their place at Paris 2024 by defeating Ethiopia, Cameroon and South Africa in the qualifiers, will look to star players such as Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe and Asisat Oshoala for inspiration.
Nigeria warmed up for the tournament with a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of reigning Olympic champions Canada earlier this month, with Jordyn Huitema scoring the only goal of the game.
Brazil have appeared in every Olympic Women’s Football tournament and have twice claimed Silver Medals (2004 & 2008), while at Tokyo 2020 they got as far as the quarterfinals before losing on penalties to eventual champions Canada.
Led by coach Arthur Elias, ‘As Canarinhas’ boast an all-time football great in Marta, a six-time World Player of the Year who comes into the tournament with 118 goals in 183 international matches.
In head-to-head stats, Nigeria and Brazil have met in two previous matches. The South Americans claimed a 3-1 win in the group stage of the 2008 Olympics, as well as a 4-3 win (after extra time) in the quarterfinals of the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
