The Super Falcons today crashed out of the Paris 2024 Olympics after they lost their third group game 3-1 to Japan in Nantes.
The Super Falcons finished bottom of a tough group without recording a point in three matches.
Reigning world champions Spain won the group with a perfect nine points after they beat Brazil 2-0 in the other game of the group.
Japan in second place with six points joined Spain to automatically qualify to the last-eight, while Brazil on three points will have to wait on the results in the other two groups to know if they will also go through as one of the two third best losers.
Nigeria needed to beat Asian champions Japan by at least 2-0 and hope that Spain beat Brazil in the other Group C match to stand any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds of the Paris Olympics.
However, it was world champions in 2011 Japan who took the game to the Super Falcons from the first whistle.
They were rewarded in the 22nd minute, when striker Hamano Maika slotted home from close range after the Nigerian defence had been split open.
They doubled the lead 10 minutes later through Mina Tanaka, when she finished off the attack after an initial shot came off the crossbar with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie beaten.
However, Nigeria halved the deficit on 42 minutes through Jennifer Echegini, who fired home after a beautiful combination play.
Japan increased their lead from a Hamano free kick in first half stoppage time.
In the 52nd minute, VAR canceled a penalty awarded by the referee to Japan for a foul by Rasheedat Ajibade inside the box.
Japan were less dominant in the second half as the Super Falcons enjoyed more of the ball and also pushed forward with the hope to score again.
There will be no more goals as Japan seemed to tire after the high tempo of the first half and the summer heat, while Nigeria continued to struggle to deliver the final ball.
Super Falcons Starting XI vs Japan: Nnadozie – Okeke (Nicole Payne 46), Alozie, Ohale (Uchenna Kanu 90), Demehin – Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun (Esther Okoronkwo 75), Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini – Ajibade (captain), Oshoala (Ihezuo 60)
