FIFA announces officials for Nigeria vs. Japan at Paris 2024 Olympics

By Saheed Afolabi 

FIFA has unveiled the officials for the crucial match between Nigeria and Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The game will take place on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 5 PM Nigerian time, and will be held at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, which has a seating capacity of 35,322.

The match will be officiated by Emikar Calderas from Venezuela, who will serve as the center referee.

Migdalia Rodriguez, also from Venezuela, will act as Assistant Referee One (AR1), while Mary Blanco from Colombia will be the Assistant Referee Two (AR2).

The fourth official for the match will be Odette Hamilton from Jamaica, who will be responsible for managing substitutions and overseeing added time.

The Super Falcons are currently the only team in Group C that has yet to secure a win. They have suffered narrow 1-0 defeats to both Brazil and Spain in their first two games.

To keep their qualification hopes alive, Nigeria must win against Japan in this final group match.

In their previous encounters, Nigeria and Japan have met twice, with Japan winning 2-0 in their first meeting and the second game ending in a draw.

The upcoming fixture is crucial for the Super Falcons as they aim to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.