Some players of the Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, were at their mercurial best at the weekend, treating their fans to a goal scoring spree in their various clubs across the world.
Coming barely four months to the Olympic Games, these performances have given Nigerians hope that, perhaps, 2024 could be the year the Falcons surmounted the quarterfinals bar at the global fiesta.
Leading the hope raising displays by the Falcons was Skipper Rasheedat Ajibade, who put in a dominant performance for Atletico Madrid in the Spanish women’s league. Not only did she score a crucial goal, her overall play earned her the Player of the Match award.
This impressive performance solidified her status as a key player for both club and country. In the United States, Uchenna Kanu continued her red-hot scoring form for Racing Louisville, adding another goal to her tally. With four goals in just five games, Kanu is currently in the race for the National Women’s Soccer League (NSWL) Golden Boot award.
Up in Mexico, Chinwendu Ihezuo also showcased her talents, bagging a brace for Club Pachuca against Santos Laguna. Just like her compatriots, Ihezuo’s impressive performance at the weekend earned her the Player of the Match award, further highlighting her attacking prowess.
Her reputation as a dominant forward who relentlessly pressures defenders was on full display last week in the Liga MX Femenil. This is coming barely four months since the striker joined the club from another Mexican club, Monterrey.
With Coach Randy Waldrum keeping tabs on his players’ form in their various teams, the American would be thrilled that most of his top stars are peaking with less than four months to the Olympic Games.
Waldrum, who led the team to a successful qualifying campaign against South Africa, has already submitted his plans for the Olympics to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Nigeria finished among the best teams at the Australia/New Zealand Women’s World Cup last year despite exiting the championship in the second round, where they lost to eventual finalists, England.
At the Paris Olympic Games, the Super Falcons are expected to go beyond the quarterfinals, which they attained at the Greece 2004 edition of the Games.
