Arthur Elias, head coach of Brazil’s women’s national team, is brimming with confidence as his squad prepares for their opening match against Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Elias attributes his team’s optimism to their strong commitment and unity.
The match, set to kick off at 6 p.m. Nigerian time today, July 25, will be held at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux, France. This highly anticipated clash will pit Brazil, a dominant force in South American women’s football with eight Copa América titles, against Nigeria, the reigning champions of African women’s football with 11 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophies.
This encounter marks the third meeting between these two powerful teams. Brazil has previously triumphed in both of their past matches: a 4-3 extra-time victory at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and a 3-1 win at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
While Nigeria’s Super Falcons, led by coach Randy Waldrum, are considered underdogs in Group C—which also includes Spain and Japan—they are determined to secure their first win over Brazil. Brazil’s coach Elias, however, remains optimistic, citing the team’s recent strong performances with 10 wins out of their last 15 games.
Elias stated, “The commitment of the team is great. We have an increasingly strong group of players and a unity of thought, which is crucial for advancing in such a challenging competition and succeeding in the knockout phases.”
Following their game against Brazil, the Super Falcons will face Spain on July 28 and Japan on July 31, both at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.