Published:
Thursday, 25 July 2024
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, making their fourth appearance in the Olympic tournament, fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Brazil at the Stade de Nice.
The Samba Queens, led by the evergreen Marta, dominated much of the play. The Brazilian legend came close to opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark but ultimately turned provider for Gabi Nunes, who scored the only goal of the match.
Despite the setback, Nigeria, captained by Racheedat Ajibade for this Olympic campaign, will have a chance to bounce back when they face reigning World Cup champions Spain on Sunday.
Zambia’s Olympic debut proved to be a baptism of fire as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against the United States.
The Copper Queens found themselves overwhelmed in the opening 25 minutes of the match.
Trinity Rodman, daughter of basketball legend Dennis Rodman, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a dazzling solo effort. Mallory Swanson of Chicago Red Stars doubled the lead just five minutes later.
To compound Zambia’s woes, defender Zulu received a red card in the 34th minute, ruling her out of the team’s next match against Australia on Sunday.
These results leave both African sides facing an uphill battle in their respective groups. Nigeria will need to regroup quickly before facing the formidable Spanish side, while Zambia must find a way to bounce back against Australia without the services of their expelled defender.
Source link : https://www.cafonline.com/womens-football/news/tough-start-for-african-teams-as-nigeria-and-zambia-fall-in-olympic-openers/
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Publish date : 2024-07-25 07:00:00
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