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Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne expects a challenging match against Brazil in their opening game at the 2024 Olympic Games, Soccernet.ng reports.
Randy Waldrum's team will kick off their campaign for a podium finish with a Group C match against the South Americans in Bordeaux on Thursday, July 25. Brazil are considered one of the top football nations in the world.
Payne, who has been linked with a move to English club Everton from Spanish side Sevilla, believes the Super Falcons are on par with Brazil but acknowledges the difficulty of the match.
“Playing at the World Cup was an amazing experience and being able to compete on the international stage with this team again is a good opportunity and I’m excited,” Payne told NFF TV.
“Brazil is a tough team and talented but as Nigeria, we are at their level and it’s going to be a good match.”
In addition to Brazil, the Super Falcons will face current world champions Spain and Japan in the same group.
Nigeria's record at the Olympic Games has been poor over the years. The Super Falcons have only won one of their previous nine games at the Summer Olympic Games, losing the other eight.
At their first Olympics in Australia in 2000, the Super Falcons lost all three games, scoring three goals and conceding nine.
In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Nigeria defeated Japan 1-0 but lost 2-1 to Sweden, finishing second in their group. They reached the quarterfinals for the first and only time, losing 2-1 to Germany.
However, in Beijing 2008, the Super Falcons lost all three group games, scoring just once and conceding five goals. Nigeria did not qualify for the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games.
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Seeing the Super Falcons approach their match against Brazil with determination and confidence is inspiring. Despite Brazil’s formidable reputation, Toni Payne’s belief in their ability to compete at the highest level highlights the Nigerian team’s resilience and ambition as they strive to make a mark in the Olympics.
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