Christy Ucheibe dreams of Olympic gold with the Super Falcons

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

SL Benfica midfielder Christy Ucheibe will be among the players of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team that will be making their debut at the women’s football tournament of the Olympics when the Super Falcons face Brazil in the Group C opener on Thursday.

With a win so far at the Olympics in the previous three appearances, the nine-time African champions hope to defeat the South American side and pick their first win over Brazil at the senior women’s national team level.

Ucheibe believes the team is at the Olympics to compete while expressing her delight to be part of the team that masterminded the return of the Super Falcons to the tournament since 2008.

“I am so happy to be among the squad going for the Olympics in Paris 2024. I am grateful to God for the opportunity. It has not been easy, but He made it possible. I am happy we got to this point,” Ucheibe told SportsBoom.com.

“The spirit in the camp is high. We are good to go. I know we are here to compete. Going to the Olympics is so special to me. I will always cherish this moment because so many people dreamt of playing at the Olympics and it never came to pass.

“I am so happy that I will be playing at the Olympics. The feeling is out of this world. I don’t know how to express myself, but one thing I know is I am so happy to be among the squad to play for Nigeria, especially representing the country. My personal goal is to help the team achieve a gold medal and keep pushing to get better.”

While admitting that group-stage opponents pose a strong challenge to Randy Waldrum’s side, the 23-year-old Ucheibe assures her side is ready to replicate their 2023 Women’s World Cup exploits on French soil.

“The training is good. The preparation is good. The spirit is high. Everyone is ready from the coaches, players, and staff, and everyone in camp is so happy and fighting so hard to prepare better for the Olympics,” Ucheibe added.

“I know we are going there to compete among the best because the teams playing at the Olympics are the top teams but we are going there to compete. No team is a pushover, so we are going there to compete and I know we are going to do more than we did at the last World Cup.

“For me, I don’t think we will have any challenge because everyone in the team from the midfield, goalkeepers, and attack, I don’t think we are going to have any challenge. We are just going to keep focus and do the things we love to do.

“Some of the oppositions we are going to face, some of them we have played their players at our club sides and know them. I think it is going to help also. They are tough. We are tough also. Let the challenge begin. We are set and ready.”

After facing Brazil on Thursday, the Super Falcons have another daunting task against world champions, Spain and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners Japan in Group C.

The top two teams after three group games and the two best third-placed teams will make it to the quarter-final.