Super Falcons foe, Japan to face Ghana in Pre-Olympic friendly match

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

As part of their preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Japan has scheduled a friendly match against the West African side, Ghana.

The match is set to take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium.

The Nadeshiko, Japan’s national women’s football team, is using this game to gear up for their Olympic group stage match against Nigeria.

Japan is set to face a challenging group that includes world champions Spain, South American champions Brazil, and nine-time African champions Nigeria.

Ghana, on the other hand, is in the midst of their own preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where they aim to make a significant impact.

Japan recently played two friendly matches against New Zealand during the last FIFA window as part of their rigorous preparation for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, under the leadership of Randy Waldrum, are making their first Olympic appearance since 2008. Despite securing their Olympic spot with a 0-0 draw against South Africa, the team has yet to schedule any matches during the FIFA windows post-qualification. As the lowest-ranked team in their Olympic group, the Super Falcons aim to surprise their higher-ranked opponents, similar to their performance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. There, they advanced from a group featuring co-host Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.

The upcoming friendly between Japan and Ghana is expected to be a crucial test for both teams as they fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of their respective tournaments.