The Super Falcons of Nigeria were handed defeat on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the La Quinta Football Centre, Malaga, Spain in a 0-1 friendly loss to Canada, just eight days before the Olympics.

The Randy Waldrum-led side went into the encounter in high spirits but saw it deflated, as the 2021 Olympics champions Canada found the back of the net in the 18th minute and held on to the lead until full time, despite attempts from the Falcons to restore parity.

Both sides had met in a hard-fought goalless draw in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B opener at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 21, 2023, with Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saving a penalty kick by veteran Christine Sinclair, and making 14 other big saves in the encounter.

Regardless of the test game results, the Super Falcons who are going into the Olympic games for the first since 2008, in Beijing, are approaching the quadrennial competition, having shown prowess against the big guns in an impressive World Cup campaign in Australia/New Zealand.

The Super Falcons will fly into France on Thursday, July 18, and are scheduled to arrive in the French city of Bordeaux at dusk, for their first outing at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 16 years.

The 2004 quarter-finalists will look to come out on the winning end in games against notable opponents Brazil at the Stade Bordeaux, Spain and Japan at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on the 28th and 31st, respectively.