Nigeria Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala has spoken confidently of the Super Falcons qualifying out of the group that has been tagged the group of death in the summer Olympics in Paris, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The reigning African footballer of the year is poised for the challenge that the competition brings with her first time in the competition.
“This will be a special event,” she told FIFA. “I’ve never been to the Olympics before, but I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m looking forward to it so much – if I make the team!”
The Nigerian team is drawn alongside, World Champions, Spain, Brazil and Japan in a group tagged group of death.
Oshoala who was part of the team that qualified for the competition for the first time since 2008 stated that the 9-time champions will prove the doubters wrong the same way it did at the World Cup in Australia.
She enthused that she and her teammates can make things difficult for their opponents who are all in the top ten of the FIFA Women's ranking.
“At the World Cup last year, people said the same thing,” said Oshoala. “They said we were in the Group of Death [with Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland] and could not qualify. But we did. I have a lot of confidence in this team. We have many young players and we can make things difficult for our opponents. We don’t just think about getting out of the group, I think we can actually walk away with a medal.”
Nigeria will kick off their Olympic campaign against Brazil in Bordeaux before travelling north to Nantes for their clashes with Spain and Japan.
Uche Dozie