Oparanozie backs Falcons to qualify from Group C

Former Super Falcons forward Desire Oparanozie has backed Randy Waldrum’s team to make it out of Group C in the women’s football event of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics despite losing to Brazil in the first match, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Falcons are in a difficult group that also houses Spain, Brazil, and Japan, all of whom have enviable pedigrees in women’s football.

All three countries are former world champions, with Spain being reigning champions following their victory at the 2023 World Cup jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Nigeria’s best outing at the Olympics was in 2004, when they made it to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Despite suffering a setback in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in their opening game on Thursday, Oparanozie, while speaking on 54footballX, remained confident that the Falcons can progress to the knockout rounds.

“Yes, we will come out,” she affirmed when asked if Nigeria would progress from the group stage.

“It’s between Spain and Japan for the top spots, and Nigeria will pick the third place. Brazil is going home. We will lose one, draw one, and win one.”

The 11-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions are set to face the current FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, Spain, on Sunday (today) in a crucial game that could potentially determine their fate in the competition.

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