Former Super Falcons striker and Olympian Patience Avre-Odeli has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that Nigeria secures one of the two African tickets for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The warning comes as Nigeria faces a challenging qualification path, with strong opponents expected in the African qualifying phase.
Tough Road Ahead for Super Falcons
Nigeria will begin its campaign in the second round against either Sudan or Comoros during the weekend of October 5 and 13, 2026. If successful, the team will face Morocco or Congo in the third round scheduled for February 23 and March 6, 2027. The fourth round, set for October 4 and 12, 2027, pits Nigeria against the winner of matches between Tunisia/Senegal and Benin Republic/Mali. The final fifth round, taking place on November 23 and December 4, 2027, will see Nigeria potentially clash with formidable sides such as Cameroon, Guinea, DR Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Algeria, Burkina Faso, or Equatorial Guinea.
Avre-Odeli's Concerns
Speaking from her base in the United States, Avre-Odeli emphasized that no African nation can be considered a minor opponent in women's football today. She highlighted Morocco and Cameroon as major threats to Nigeria's qualification. "Without adequate preparations, the team may not perform as expected. Olympic Games African qualifiers have always been tough because only a few tickets are available for Africa, and Nigeria cannot miss out," she stated.
Avre-Odeli, who represented Nigeria at the 1995, 1999, and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cups, as well as the 2000 Sydney Olympics, urged both the NSC and NFF to prioritize the Super Falcons' preparations. She noted that while the NFF typically finances World Cup campaigns, the NSC is solely responsible for funding athletes and footballers representing Nigeria at the Olympics.
"I believe that the Chairman of NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, as an astute sports administrator, will work in harmony with the NFF leadership to provide the Super Falcons all they need to navigate through the four qualifying phases and secure one of the two African tickets to Los Angeles 2028," Avre-Odeli added.
The Chairperson of the United Ex-Super Falcons Association insisted that Nigeria must not miss out on the next Summer Olympics. She expressed confidence that the country possesses the players to deliver the ticket, provided sports administrators put their acts right and support the team throughout the qualifying phases.
