Match preview: Nigeria vs Ethiopia – Super Falcons’ seek end to 15-year Olympic Games jinx

Nigeria and Ethiopia will trade tackles again for the second time in a week for a chance in the next qualifying round of the 2024 Olypic Games scheduled for Paris in France.

When the two nations met in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, the Super Falcons forced the East Africans to a 1-1 draw.

The Falcons were the big favourites to claim a straightforward win over the Lucy but the East Africans drew the first blood through Birkie Amare with barely seven minutes on the clock.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade fired a volley in the second half to draw Nigeria level but despite boasting the talents of Asisat Oshoala, Gift Monday, and Ifeoma Onumonu, the Super Falcons failed to find a winning goal.

There is everything to play for when the two teams play each other again on Tuesday afternoon at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with the winner guaranteed to progress to the next phase of the competition.

The Super Falcons will be wary of the stubborn Ethiopians, however, as the last time they qualified for the Olympic Games was 15 years ago in 2008.

Ethiopia landed in Nigeria on Sunday for the encounter and will hope to upset the odds when they locks horns with Nigeria on Tuesday.

The Falcons looked disjointed against the Lucy last week in the absence of head coach Randy Waldrum who was unavailable due to other commitments in the United States.

The American gaffer was expected to be in charge of the team for this second leg but the Falcons have to do without his expertise again as his contract impasse with the Nigeria Football Federation continues.

Aside Waldrum, the Super Falcons will miss the experience of senior members of the team including Ashleigh Plumptre, Onome Ebi, Halimotu Ayinde, and Osinachi Ohale.

But the team can still count on the talents of Barcelona’s Oshoala, Paris FC’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, Demehin Oluwatosin, Michelle Alozie, and the newly invited Rinsola Babajide.

A clash with either Cameroun or Uganda awaits the winner of the Nigeria-Ethiopia clash in the next stage of the qualifiers.

Match details
Competition: CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying
Game: Nigeria vs Ethiopia
Venue: MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja
Kick-off: 4 pm (Nigerian time)