2024 Olympics Japan 3 Nigeria 1: End of the road for Super Falcons despite Echegini's superb goal 

The Super Falcons lost their matchday three encounter 3-0 to Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday evening which was played at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France and as a result have been knocked out of the competition.

Coach Randy Waldrum made just one change to the side that started against Spain on Sunday with Jennifer Echeginini replacing Esther Okoronkwo.

The Super Falcons had a slow start to the game and found it difficult to leave their half due to the Japanese pressing and were punished for their poor start.

Japan opened the scoring in the 21st minute from a counter-attack as Riko Ueki passed the ball into the six-yard box for Maika Hamano to put the ball past Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The one-time world champions doubled their lead in the 32nd minute- a cross was delivered from the right flank to Riko Ueko whose header hit the post but Mina Tanaka was alert to strike the ball home.

Four minutes before halftime, Echegini halved the deficit, courtesy of an assist from Christy Ucheibe but Nigeria's hope of restoring parity was ended after Hikaru Hitagawa's beautiful free-kick beat Nnadozie which restored Japan's two-goal lead.

Nigeria almost conceded a penalty in the 51st minute when Rasheedat Ajibade shoved a Japanese player at the back in the penalty area. Still, the VAR didn't deem the foul enough to warrant a penalty.

The 2012 runners-up came close to adding to their tally in the 65th minute through Kiko Seike but her header drifted wide off the post.

Echegini tried to reduce the deficit from a distance, but Ayaka Yamashita, the Japan goalkeeper, calmly collected her long-range effort.

The loss confirmed the Super Falcons' exit from the competition with no points gained from three games, five goals conceded and just one goal scored.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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