2024 Olympics Nigeria v Brazil: Match preview, what to expect, key players, venue and kickoff time

The Super Falcons will start their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign with a clash against heavyweights Brazil, on Thursday evening.

The Nigerian ladies haven't qualified for the competition since 2008 but have been handed a tough task on their return.

They have been grouped alongside the Seleção, world champions Spain and Japan in what can rightly be called the group of death.

Brazil head into the tournament with the mission of ending their wait for an Olympic gold medal and will want to kick start their campaign with a victory over the Nigerian ladies.

Match Preview 

This is the second time both sides will be facing at the Olympics with the first being in the 2008 edition of the competition when Nigeria took the lead but eventually lost to the South American side.

Brazil are no doubt the favourite for the clash, based on their pedigree and the crop of players they have got in their ranks.

Arthur Elias' ladies head into the tournament with a high momentum, having defeated Jamaica back-to-back with a eight goal aggregate scoreline but will face a sterner test against the Super Falcons.

The record African champions defied the odds at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup by qualifying for the knockout rounds in a group that had Canada, host country Australia and Republic of Ireland and weren't defeated in normal regulation time before their exit.

They will be no pushover for the South American giants but admittedly, a victory for them will be one of the shocking results in the competition.

What to expect 

Randy Waldrum has been able to forge a side built on a solid defensive unit and that won't change due to the adversary in front of them.

They kept three clean sheets in four games at the last World Cup and didn't concede any goal in their last four qualification games en route their qualification for the Olympics.

The goal will be to keep the Brazilians at bay with numbers behind the ball and carve out opportunities through turnovers with their youthful forward line.

The Seleção will enjoy the Lion's share of the possession and will be saddled with the responsibility of breaking down the Nigerian compact shape.

Key players 

1.Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria): The veteran centre-back keeps no prisoners and will have to maintain her consistency against Brazil for Nigeria to get something out of the encounter.

2.Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria): Off the back of winning Atletico Madrid's Women's Player of the Season, she will be shouldering the attacking responsibility against the two-time runners-up and will be expected to deliver.

3.Marta (Brazil): The accomplished midfielder needs no introduction. Regarded as the greatest female footballer of all time, having won the FIFA World Player of the Year on six occasions.

Marta will be seeking to help her country to win her first ever Olympics gold medal, starting with a victory over the Super Falcons.

4. Rafaelle Souza (Brazil): The National Women's Soccer League star is the captain of Brazil and will be saddled with the responsibility of keeping the youthful Nigerian attack quiet from her central defensive position.

Venue and kickoff time

The fixture is billed to take place at Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux at 1800 hours, Nigerian time.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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