National Teams
Paris 2024 Qualifiers: ‘Believe in us’ – Rasheedat Ajibade tells Nigerians ahead of Banyana clash
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria captain, Rasheedat Ajibade has called on Nigerians to put their confidence in the ability of the Super Falcons to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
The West African side flew to South Africa on Sunday night for a deciding battle with South Africa in Pretoria on Tuesday night.
Ajibade’s strike from the penalty spot earned the nine-time African champions a lone-goal victory over the visiting Banyana Banyana in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday.
With all to play for in the return leg in South Africa’s administrative capital, the Atletico Madrid ace says the players will be propelled to victory knowing that the faith of over 200 million Nigerians in them is unwavering.
“We are not under any illusions. It is going to be a big and tough fight. For us, we have 90 minutes standing between us and the long-elusive ticket to the Olympics and we will give it our all,” she told media.
“We want Nigerians to believe in the Super Falcons. The players are motivated by the keen desire to play in the Olympics. Personally, I have played at every tournament you can think of, except the Olympics. The time to do it is now.”
The win on Friday ended South Africa’s previous win over Super Falcons in 2021 and 2022 and also put a stop to the failure of Nigeria to beat Desire Ellis’s side in 90 minutes in their previous four games.
Ajibade added: “At the end of the day, the grass will be green and it will be eleven players against eleven players. We are ready.”
The winner of the game on aggregate on Tuesday will qualify for the women’s football event of the Olympics alongside one of Morocco or Zambia.
Morocco secured a 2-1 win ahead of the return leg at home on Tuesday.
