Super Falcons Crash Out of Paris Olympics After 3-1 Loss to Japan

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been eliminated from the 2024 Paris Olympics women's football event following a 3-1 defeat to Japan. 

This loss marks their third consecutive defeat in the tournament, leaving them without a single win.

Nigeria entered Wednesday's match with hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals despite previous losses to Brazil and Spain. However, the Japanese team dashed those hopes with a strong performance from the outset.

Hamano Maika opened the scoring for Japan early in the match, setting the tone for the encounter. Tanako Maina extended Japan's lead with a well-executed free-kick that sailed past Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie in the 32nd minute.

Jennifer Echegini provided a glimmer of hope for the Super Falcons by scoring, but Japan's Hikaru Kitagawa quickly extinguished any Nigerian aspirations with a third goal, sealing the victory for Nadeshiko Japan.

Japan's triumph allowed them to finish as the Group B runner-up, trailing World Champions Spain by two points. Spain secured their top position in the group with a 2-0 victory over Brazil.

The Super Falcons' exit from the Olympics is a significant disappointment, as they failed to secure a single point in their campaign. The team will now look to regroup and focus on future competitions.