Hope rising as Super Falcons foes and world champions Spain suffer first loss in 2024

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After seven matches without defeat, World champions Spain lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic in Matchday five of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Qualifiers despite scoring the first goal.

World’s Best women’s football player, Aitana Bonmati, scored the opener in the 15th minute for La Roja. However, Katherina Svitkova leveled the score for the hosts in the 44th minute.

Six minutes into the second half, Eva Bartova scored the winning goal for the Czechs from the penalty spot. Spain were reduced to ten players after a straight red card was issued to Irene Paredes in the 70th minute.

Spain’s last loss came with a 3-2 defeat to Italy on December 1, 2023, in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, which they won.

With qualification for the next Euros already sealed with two games to spare, Spain will conclude their qualification campaign against Belgium on July 16 before traveling to France for the Paris 2024 Olympics. At the Olympics, they will face the Super Falcons, Japan, and Brazil in Group C.

The Nigerian team is currently in Spain training for the women’s football event of the Olympics and will play a friendly match against Olympic champions Canada next Wednesday before heading to France.