Athens 2004: No easy games- Mabo

Mabo said shortly after the draw was made that the group is as difficult as it can get because any team at the Olympics had to be worth its salt.

“Remember that Sweden beat us at the last World Cup, just about 9 months ago and they also got to the final of the World Cup and this means they are a good side.”

“The Japanese, we have not played before but they have qualified for every World Cup and they beat Asian Champions, North Korea 3-0 to qualify for the Olympics.”

“I can only assure Nigerians that we will do our best at the games and sail through the group stages which will be an improvement from the last time where we lost all threee games by 3-1 margins.”

The Falcons have been in camp for three weeks in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, reducing an initial squad of 35 players to 20 and would leave for Germany on Monday night ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Omidiran upbeat on Falcons Chances

NFA board member and Chairman of the Female Football Development Committee, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran says the Falcons can go all the way to win Nigeria’s first Olympic Gold medal in the female football event.

A confident, Omidiran told nigeriasports.com that she has no doubt in her mind that the Falcons can shake off their World Cup Lethargy in Athens.

“You know we finally have a team that is a blend of youth and experience and the coaches have really done a good job building the confidence of the girls. The players have been around for a while and the team are growing in self confidence which is a key factor.”

The NFA board member also said that by the time the Olympics kick off in August the team would have been in camp for three months, something that has not happened before.

“I don’t think it has happened before, either at the Olympics or World Cup where the team spent this long in camp and it will surely tell on their performance.”

“We also performed poorly at the last World Cup and I’m sure we would be underrated for that, which would also be a plus for us.”

“It’s a plus when your opponents underrate you before a game and that is what we might face in Athens. We really have a good team and I can’t wait for Athens to be part of the Games.”