The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said it has motivated the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in France having lost the opportunity to qualify for the competition in the last three editions.
Speaking in an exclusive interview after their training session at the Turf Arena in Abuja on Saturday afternoon, the NFF Secretary General, Sanusi Mohammed said the nine-time African champions have been well-motivated by the federation to defeat Ethiopia adding that the NFF can’t afford to fail Nigerians and particularly the new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government.
“This match is very important to us, of course, we have missed the Olympics three times and can’t afford to miss the next one. The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, said I should come and talk to them. He’s unavoidable absent but will be around tomorrow. He said I should come and let them know that Nigerians are solidly behind them. We have new government who has been supportive that we can’t afford to fail. So we must be at this next Olympics.
When asked to predict the scoreline in the second leg next Tuesday, he said: “It’s difficult to say a particular scoreline but all I will say is that we have charged the team to go for the kill against Ethiopia and make Nigerians proud and I believe they have the capacity to do it.
He continued, “Even Ethiopia are good side, they missed many scoring chances in the first leg and I believe they will want to take their opportunities in the return leg.”
Having played a 1-1 draw in Ethiopia in the first leg of the Second Round of 2024 Olympics qualifier, the Super Falcons trained for two hours on Saturday evening in Abuja in readiness for the second leg next Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja