Falcons kick off Olympic qualifying against Comoros

The Super Falcons start their journey to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games on Friday. They will play Comoros in the first leg of their second-round African qualifying match at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

For Nigeria, this match marks the beginning of another Olympic qualification effort. It is a chance for them to make a good start under interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen.

Eguavoen said the team is settling in nicely at camp. They are focused on putting up a strong performance in both legs of the tie.

“Everyone has settled in well in camp as we have a full house now, and our focus is to present a strong and competitive squad for the two matches,” he said.

Comoros also comes into this match with confidence. They advanced to the second round after defeating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate. They won the first leg 17-0 and followed it with a 13-0 victory in the second leg.

These results show that Comoros has a strong attacking side. But Friday's match will be a bigger challenge against one of Africa's top women's football teams.

Nigeria received a bye to the second round, while Comoros had to go through the opening phase. The Falcons hope to use their experience and skill to gain an advantage before the return leg on October 13.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade is expected to lead Nigeria. The squad also includes seasoned players like Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, and Jennifer Echegini.

The scheduling of the match is unusual since both games will take place in Nigeria. Friday's match is officially Comoros' home game, but it will happen at Remo Stars Stadium. This is because the island nation does not have a CAF-approved venue for the match.

This familiarity with the stadium might help the Falcons. But Eguavoen knows that they need to show this advantage in the game.

With the Olympic Games in Los Angeles as their main goal, Nigeria wants to avoid any trouble in this first leg. A strong win on Friday would give the Falcons a solid foundation for the second match four days later.

For Eguavoen and his players, the goal is clear: start strong, stay focused, and take the first step towards Olympic qualification. The journey kicks off in Ikenne.