Jennifer Echegini makes the best of her first start for the Super Falcons at the Paris 2024 Olympics by scoring the country’s goal in the Women Football event to become the fourth player in history to score an Olympic goal for the team.
Echegini enters the history book in the 41st minute of that make or break encounter between Nigeria and Japan in Marseile on Tuesday evening in Marseille..
Though the goal gives a ray of hope as it cut the deficit between Nigeria and Japan to one with over 45 minutes to play but the joy short lived as the Japanese restored the two goal lead and won the game deservedly by 3-1.
The lone goal is all Nigeria could show for her appearance at the women’s football event in 270 minutes and the honours fell Jennifer who joins the trio of Vera Okolo, Perpetual Nwokocha and Mercy Akide in super exclusive list of Nigerians that had Olympic goals to their name.
Her makes it Super Falcons’ 8th goals at the Olympics since Nigeria made her first appearance in the event in 2000.
Nigeria qualified for the 2004 and 2008 before making another appearance in Paris 2024 winning just one of the matches played at the Olympics.
Perpetual Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at the Olympics in Sydney and added her second in 2004 at Athens before retiring from the game which brought her fame and honour.
Mercy Akide scored four Olympic goals for Nigeria which placed her as the country’s best striker at the Olympics.
Vera Okolo scored the country lone goal at the 2008 Olympics and today Jennifer Echegini joins that exclusive list of Olympic goal scorers with her effort on Wednesday against Japan in Marseile.
