Just at it was 26 years ago in the City of Nantes, France, Spain were overwhelming favourites as contenders for the title and were expected to beat Nigeria who at the time were undergoing ‘no-win’ streak’ so also it is now.

But contrary to expectations, Nigeria inflicted severe pains on Spain.

A repeat of this is what is expected of the Super Falcons as they face the overwhelming opponents, Spain on the same Stade de la Beaujoire.

Twenty six years ago, Nigeria won 3-2. Sports Village Square correspondent who witnessed the what was one of the major upsets in World Cup history has already taken accommodation just three minute walking distance to the theatre of dream, the Stade de la Beaujoire.

A win by the Super Falcons will put them on the path of possible qualification for the quarter-finals. A loss will be a huge set-back.

According to a release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nigeria’s captain, Rasheedat Ajibade is quoted as saying: “We missed quite a few chances against Brazil, and they took their chance. We will do our best to take our chances against Spain on Sunday.”

Kick off is 6pm local time

Nigerian lightweight boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore was provisionally suspended on Saturday after she tested positive for a banned substance ahead of her opening fight at the Paris Olympics, the International Testing Agency said.

Ogunsemilore tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic on WADA’s prohibited list, in an out-of-competition doping control collected on Thursday.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules,” the ITA said.

“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division. The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.”

The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and African Games champion had been due to take on Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi in a round of 16 bout on Tuesday.

Paris – The city of Paris transformed into a grand amphitheatre on Friday as the iconic Seine River served as a track for the athletes’ parade in the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games. The event showcased France’s cultural diversity, revolutionary spirit, impeccable craftsmanship, and rich architectural heritage.

The ceremony broke tradition with a spectacular ‘Parade of Nations’ as athletes from 205 countries and a refugee team sailed down the Seine on boats. Despite heavy rain, the event proceeded with grandeur.

In a notable moment, the ceremony paid tribute to the contributions of prominent French women during the ‘sisterhood’ segment, using Hindi among six languages in the infographics.

French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open, signaling the start of 16 days of intense competition.

The torch relay featured sports icons Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci, who journeyed by boat. Retired French tennis player Amélie Mauresmo, now the French Open director, passed the flame to French basketball legend and former NBA star Tony Parker.

The torchbearers, now a group of 18 Olympians and Paralympians, approached the cauldron. Final torchbearers Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec lit the cauldron in the Jardin des Tuileries, aligned with the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. As the cauldron was ignited, a balloon lifted it high into the Paris sky, marking a breathtaking start to the Olympics.

In a remarkable start to the Paris Olympics, China clinched the first gold medal of the games, but the victory did not take place in Paris.

Instead, the Olympic shooting range located in Chateauroux, a three-hour drive from the French capital, hosted the event.

Chinese shooters Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao triumphed in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event on Saturday morning. They quickly established a four-point lead against South Korea’s Keum Jihyeon and Park Hajun and maintained their advantage, ultimately winning 16-12.

This victory marks a continuation of China’s dominance in the event, as Yang Qian and Yang Haoran won the gold in the same category at the Tokyo Olympics, where team air rifle shooting made its debut.

Earlier in the day, Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev secured the first medals of the Paris Games by defeating Germany’s Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich 17-5 to claim the bronze.

The Super Falcons were full of guts and gumption, but a 37^th minute strike by Gabi Nunes separated the two-time Olympics silver medallists from the nine-time African champions as the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament got off to a roarious start on Thursday.

Rasheedat Ajibade led the Falcons to the turf of the Stade Matmut Atlantique, as Nigeria’s flag was flown at the tournament for the first time in 16 years, and truly led from the front with some excellent runs down the left of the South Americans. But her team mates at the fore failed to read her moves correctly on the several occasions she sent the ball into the box.

Her final pass, after a brave run down the line in the 7^th minute was blocked, and in the 16^th minute, she was the initiator of a double-barreled attack on the Brazilian goal that saw Chinwendu Ihezuo’s shot blocked and Christy Ucheibe’s follow-up punched away.

In the 20^th minute, Chiamaka Nnadozie saved from the rampaging Portilho, and again read well a long-range drive by Gabi Nunes five minutes later. In the 36^th minute, ageless Brazil captain Marta thought she had given her team the lead when she struck past Nnadozie as the Falcons’ defence failed to clear, but she was ruled offside.

Moments later, the Nigerian defence was again caught napping, and Gabi Nunes, set free by a wonder of a pass by Marta, fired past Nnadozie, the ball cantering in from the underside of the bar.

In the closing moments, the Falcons broke forward with a sweet team move, only for Jennifer Echegini’s lift to rise above the opposition goalpost.

On the hour mark, Marta’s dipping curl from the left was thwarted by the upright, and Nnadozie saved from Ludmila three minutes later.

Ajibade forced another smart save from the Brazilian goalkeeper in the 71^st minute, and Ucheibe did the same with minutes left. But the Canarinhas held on to pick all three points in the evening.

Next up for the Super Falcons is a clash with world champions Spain – who defeated Japan 2-1 in Group C’s opener – in Nantes on Sunday evening.  

Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s Queen of Track and World Record holder in the 100m Women’s hurdles, has been chosen as Team Nigeria’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Amusan is the first athlete from Athletics to hold this honor in 20 years, since Mary Onyali at the Athens 2004 Games.

In addition to Amusan’s appointment, the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) has also named badminton star Anuoluwapo Opeyori as the General Team Captain for Nigeria in Paris.

Nigeria will compete in the following sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics:

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Canoeing
• Cycling
• Football
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

A total of 88 athletes will represent Nigeria across these sports. With strong contenders like Tobi Amusan leading the team, expectations are high for Nigeria to perform well and secure medals at the Games. The participation of athletes in various disciplines showcases the nation’s diverse talent and commitment to excelling on the global stage.