National Teams
Paris 2024 Olympic: Japan head coach Futoshi Ikeda reacts to victory over Nigeria
By Monsurah Olatunji
Japan head coach Futoshi Ikeda has reacted to his side’s 3-1 victory over Nigeria on Wednesday, a win that secured their qualification to the next stage of the Olympic Games with six points from a possible nine.
Goals from Maiko Hamano, Mina Tanaka, and Hikaru Kitagawa secured the win for Japan, while Jennifer Echegini’s impressive goal served as a consolation for the 11-time African Champions, Nigeria.
Futoshi expressed relief following the win over the Super Falcons in their final group match.
“First of all, I’m happy that we were able to get through this tough group,” Futoshi said, according to the AFC.
“Even though we lost the first match, we managed to win against Brazil. The manner in which it was won made it very emotional and that made the next match difficult, but we fought well.
“Things haven’t been easy; we had a lot of things happen with a few injuries, but I’m happy to see us overcoming that and showcasing the team’s strength.
“Recovery is key for the next few days. At the Olympics, the best eight teams are all strong. When we face them, we will take a good look at what we can do and get in shape.”
The Nadeshiko will face the United States of America in Saturday’s Olympic quarterfinal in Paris.
