Paris 2024: Nigeria, Canada women’s teams face off in Malaga pre-Olympic match
Nigeria and Canada’s senior women’s teams face off for the second time under a year on Wednesday in a closed-doors training match in Malaga for their final preparation ahead of the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament starting in eight days.
The match kicks off at 6.30pm Spain time (5.30pm Nigeria time) at La Quinta Football Centre, Malaga, concluding the Super Falcons‘ training camp in Spain.
Both teams previously played to a 0-0 draw in their FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B opener at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 21 July 2023. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, saved a penalty kick by veteran Christine Sinclair and made 14 other crucial saves in that match.
Coach Randy Waldrum is expected to field a similar squad, retaining goalkeeper Nnadozie, defenders Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, and possibly Chidinma Okeke, along with midfielders Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, and Deborah Abiodun. The forward lineup may see changes, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade returning after missing the previous Canada match due to a red card in the Women AFCON semi-final against Morocco in July 2022. Uchenna Kanu and Chinwendu Ihezuo could also feature.
The nine-time African champions will travel to France on Thursday for further training, leading up to their opening match against Brazil at Stade Bordeaux on 25th July. Nigeria’s other group matches will be against Spain on 28th July and Japan on 31st July, both at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.