Victor Ikpeba backs Super Falcons to qualify from Olympics ‘Group of death’

Former Super Eagles and Borussia Dortmund forward, Victor Ikpeba Nosa, has backed the Super Falcons of Nigeria to trounce Spain, Japan, and Brazil and qualify for the latter stages of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Soccernet.ng reports.

Randy Waldrum's team saw out a 1-0 home victory in Pretoria, edging South Africa to secure a summer Olympic spot in France. However, the 11-AWCON champions have been drawn into Group C of the competition where they will take on Spain, Brazil and Spain.

The American manager described the group as the ‘group of death, drawing a similar comparison with the group in which they were placed in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they scathed through the group unbeaten.

The Super Falcons played goalless draws against Canada and the Republic of Ireland, before claiming a 3-2 victory over Sam Kerr's Australia. They however got knocked out on penalties by England in the next round.

Ikpeba who played 31 games for Nigeria, has encouraged the Super Falcons to defy the odds in Paris, daring them to dream of glory after returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

“Super Falcons will get out of this ‘Group of Death’. Nobody also gave us a chance when we were drawn into a tough-looking group at the 1996 Olympics that had Brazil, Japan and Hungary, but we went on to make history by winning the first Olympics Gold for Africa. The Falcons need early preparation, possibly in France for two, or three weeks, we did the same in 1996, when we trained for some weeks in the USA, the earlier they prepare, the better for the team,” the 1994 AFCON winner said in quotes revealed by Daily Post.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will kick off on July 24 with football and rugby events. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to take place two days later.