Asisat Oshoala and Brazil's head coach Arthur Elias have exchanged strong statements ahead of their Paris 2024 Olympics opener. Oshoala aims for a medal with Nigeria's Super Falcons, while Elias expresses confidence in Brazil’s unity and potential. The match between Nigeria and Brazil kicks off on Thursday at Stade de Bordeaux.
Asisat Oshoala and Brazil’s head coach Arthur Elias have exchanged bold statements ahead of their Group C opener at the Paris 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament. The match between Nigeria and Brazil is set for Thursday at 19:00 local time at Stade de Bordeaux.
Arthur Elias expressed strong confidence in his Brazilian squad, highlighting their unity and commitment as key to advancing through the tournament. He emphasized the team's determination to excel and secure victory in the knockout stages. “The commitment of the team is great. We have an increasingly strong group of players, and we have a unity of thought,” Elias stated to fifa.com on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s star forward Asisat Oshoala is equally optimistic about her team’s prospects. The Super Falcons, making their first Olympic appearance since 2008, are determined to overcome Brazil, despite historical setbacks. Brazil has defeated Nigeria in past encounters, including a 4-3 win in the 1999 Women’s World Cup quarterfinal and a 3-1 victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics group stage.
Oshoala, Nigeria’s most decorated female footballer, expressed confidence in her team’s potential, aiming for more than just group-stage advancement. “We have many young players, and we can make things difficult for our opponents. We don’t just think about getting out of the group; I think we can walk away with a medal,” she told fifa.com.
With a challenging group that also includes world champions Spain and Japan, Nigeria’s performance against Brazil will be crucial for their Olympic campaign.
