Falcons begin their Olympic goal quest as Spanish training camp opens ahead of Paris games

NIGERIA's Super Falcons have begun preparations for the Paris Olympics due to start later this month as training began at their Spanish camp in the southern city of Seville over the weekend.

Between March 26 and August 11, Paris will host the 33rd ever Olympic Games where the Super Falcons will be looking to repeat the feat of their male counterparts, who clinched football gold in Atlanta in 1996. At the last World Cup, the Falcons were very impressive only getting knocked out on penalties to eventual finalists England and the team is confident it can go all the way in France.

Camp opened on Friday, led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and training began in earnest yesterday. Head coach Randy Waldrum, called up 18 players for the Olympic campaign, including star forward Asisat Oshoala, key midfielder Jennifer Echegini and fan's favourite Michelle Alozie.

However, Halimatu Ayinde withdrew from the squad with injury and Mr Waldrum is expected to name a replacement soon. Among the invited players, only 36-year-old goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi has previous Olympic experience as she was part of the squad that competed in the Beijing 2008 games.

Over the next two weeks,  the Super Falcons training camp will be alive and kicking and the team will head to France on July 18. Nigeria will play a friendly match against Canada on Wednesday, July 17, before departing for Paris for what will be the Falcons' first Olympic appearance in 16 years.

Then the Super Falcons’ tournament begins on July 25 with a match against Brazil at the Stade Bordeaux. They will then face Spain on July 28 at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, followed by their final group stage match against Japan at the same venue on July 31.

In what can only be a good omen for the team, the Stade de la Beaujoire holds special significance for Nigerian football fans, as it was the site of the Super Eagles’ memorable 3-2 victory over Spain in the 1998 men's World Cup. Nigerian women have yet to ever win a football Olympic medal, whereas the men's teams have won gold, silver and bronze.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)

Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)

Defenders

Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico)

Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)

Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)

Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA)

Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)

Midfielders

Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA)

Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden)

Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy)

Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)

Forwards

Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain)

Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China)

Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA)

Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA)

Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico)

Chinonyerem Macleans (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Alternate Players

Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons)

Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA)

Gift Monday (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)

Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)