Since featuring at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China, the Super Falcons have missed three editions of the Games in London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2020).

In the battle for London 2012, the Super Falcons, led then by former striker, Uche Eucharia, lost the ticket to the Lionesses of Cameroon in a game decided through penalty shootout.  And in the race to Rio 2016, the Super Falcons were knocked out by Equatorial Guinea, who won 2-1 in Bata. Then, the Nigerians managed a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Abuja to wave goodbye to the ticket on a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.

For the qualifiers to Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Super Falcons lost to Cote d’Ivoire through the away goal rule, after a 1-1 aggregate over two legs. The Nigerians had recorded a goalless draw in Abidjan, only to play 1-1 at Agege Stadium in Lagos. That setback came shortly after coach Thomas Dennerby’s sudden resignation from the team.

Now, an opportunity to make the party to Paris 2024 Olympic Games is here this afternoon at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, where the Super Falcons face host, Banyana Banyana, in a match the Nigerians need a draw of any colour to scale through.

After losing 0-1 to the Super Falcons in the first leg in Abuja on Friday, coach of Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, said her team would do the job today in Pretoria.

A 43rd-minute goal from the penalty spot by Atletico Madrid winger, Rasheedat Ajibade, gave Nigeria the edge on Friday at the MKO Abiola Stadium.

While the South Africans returned to Pretoria immediately after the tie in Abuja, the Super Falcons arrived in the rainbow nation yesterday morning. The Nigerians trained only once on Monday evening for the crucial tie as against Banyana Banyana, who trained for four days in Abuja before Friday’s encounter.

Considering results of recent encounters between the two teams, the Nigerians will have to go the extra mile this afternoon to ensure victory.

In 2016, Ellis led the Banyana Banyana to the African Women Championship in Cameroun, where they narrowly lost to the Super Falcons led then by coach Florence Omagbemi in the semifinal in the city of Limbe.

But in 2021, Ellis led the Banyana Banyana to Lagos to inflict a 4-2 defeat on the Super Falcons, their biggest fall on home soil from any African team during the final of the Aisha Buhari Cup.

Ellis and her Banyana Banyana side also defeated the Super Falcons 2-1 in the semifinal of the last African Women Nations Cup, which the South Africans eventually won in Morocco.

Ellis told safa.net that the reigning African champions will approach today’s match in Pretoria with everything they have.

“We are still in the game. We created a couple of chances in the first leg in Abuja, but a penalty decided the match. The game is not over,” she said.

Ready to counter whatever South Africa would throw at them, Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, said the match would bring out the best in his team.

“I thought we were a bit unfortunate not to have at least two or three goals victory in the first leg in Abuja, but I think the team played well. This second leg in Pretoria will be a different game, and I am confident we will get the ticket to Paris,” Waldrum stated.

Some fans, who watched the first encounter in Abuja praised the Super Falcons, particularly the defence despite the absence of some key players, including Ashleigh Plumptre, and Tosin Demehim.

United States-based strike, Asisat Oshoala also missed the first leg at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Friday.

The Super Falcons’ delegation for the all-important match arrived in Pretoria yesterday morning, and have settled down for the game, which will kick off at 7.30 p.m. South African time (6.30 p.m. Nigeria time).