Paris 2024: Brazil’s Adriana expects tough encounter against Super Falcons

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Ahead of Thursday’s Group C opener between Nigeria’s senior women’s national team and Brazil, Adriana has advised her teammate to be wary of threats posed by the nine-time African champions.

The game will be the second meeting between both sides at the women’s football event of the Olympics.

Adriana who plays for Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States said: “A detail from a set piece, for example, whether it’s to score a goal or to prevent the opposing team from scoring. Therefore, we must pay as much attention as possible not only in games but also in our daily training,” the forward warns.

The player enjoyed the preparation phase in Teresópolis (RJ) and arrived in Bordeaux excited and continued work.

She anticipates a very tough match against Nigeria. However, she remains optimistic.

“This first game is crucial. In fact, it will always be like this. In any case, we need to have a lot of concentration and focus for this debut. And take it step by step.”

In the last meeting between the two teams at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the South American champions secured a 3-1 win.

Their first encounter in the quarter-final of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was one of the most entertaining games in World Cup history which ended 4-3 in favour of the Brazilians after extra as Sissi scored the golden goal.

Super Falcons hope to pick their first point against Brazil on Thursday in Bordeaux.