Sixteen years of hurt will be high on the minds of Nigeria's Super Falcons going into their two-legged matchup against South Africa, in the final round of qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
But head coach Randy Waldrum believes he has a generational team who have the talent to snap that unwanted streak, starting on Friday in the first leg.
After their exploits at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia, Waldrum says his team are special: "I think it's time to end the 16-year absence from the Olympics.
"Countries have generational teams and I think this team in particular is a generational team. I don't mean that disrespectfully to any of the other national teams of Nigeria.
"I just mean that the talent that we have in this particular team and even the depth that we have coming into the team, I think we saw it in Australia what we are able to accomplish against the best teams in the world and I think this team can continue to move on to be a major player on the world stage.
"Obviously, we need to win these matches so we do qualify since it's been so long. But I think this team is special and I do think we have the ability to be one of the best teams in the world."
Since their last appearance in 2008, where they finished bottom of their group, the serial African champions have failed to qualify for the next three; in 2012, 2016 and 2020. If they fail to make it to the 2024 tournament, their next shot would be 20 years later, in 2028.
As part of that 2008 squad, goalkeeper Tochi Oluehi is the only member of the current squad with Olympic experience, and she says a fourth failure on the bounce is not to be countenanced.
"We don't even want to think about it," she told ESPN. "Because it is going to break our hearts, not just as players but the country too. We know how heartbreaking it was the last time, and we don't want to suffer that again."
That last time was especially painful, as the Super Falcons failed to make it past the second round of qualifying, losing 1-1 on away goals to Côte d'Ivoire after a 0-0 draw in Abidjan.
Despite their strong record as former African champions, Olympic qualifying has never been easy for Nigeria, who have never failed to qualify for every edition of the Women's World Cup. In 1999, they qualified for the first of their three Olympic Games appearances by reaching the quarterfinal of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
But that was as "easy" as it got. In 2004, after drawing bye in the early round and walking over Kenya in the second round, they had to battle their way past first Ghana in the third, then South Africa in the final round.
A 1-1 draw in Nigeria was followed by another 1-1 draw in Accra and the game went to penalty shootout, which the Super Falcons won 3-2 after missing their first two kicks.
That victory took them to their first meeting in Olympic qualifiers against Banyana Banyana. After a hard fought 2-2 draw in Johannesburg, Mercy Akide's goal in Abuja sent the Super Falcons through to Athens.
In 2008, they met Ghana and South Africa again, this time in a round robin final round tournament, beating Banyana Banyana 6-0 on aggregate and Ghana 2-1 on aggregate. They finished tied with the Black Queens on 9 points, but advanced by superior goals difference.
And then the nightmare began. In 2012, they were eliminated on penalty kicks by Cameron in the final round, and in 2020, Equatorial Guinea were the queen slayers.
Incidentally, on all three occasions when they have failed to qualify, the team has been managed by interim coaches. That is not the case this time, with Waldrum returning following a contract extension with the NFF.
Waldrum has kept faith with the bulk of the talent from the World Cup, although defenders Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehin are out injured.
The coach said: "Our thoughts and prayers with Ashleigh and Demehin. They're both vitally important to us. They're two mainstays in our defense and it's a big loss not to have those two. My first thoughts is to have them get healthy and making sure they're going to be okay.
"But as a coach, you always have to have a Plan B in effect and we have been working on those plans and I think we have players that will be ready to step in and replace them and do a good job for us.
"So I have the confidence in the depth in our squad they can come in and do the job that they have to do."
That job, is ultimately to get to Paris. But to do so, they have to navigate their way past current African champions Banyana Banyana.
Oluehi says the way to do is to be aggressive against a team that have dominated recent head to head meetings, winning three of their last four meetings since 2018, including the last one at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
"We just have to be aggressive," she said. "Take the bull by the horns, from the start to the finish. We have to be at our best. Everyone must fight for each other, everyone must help each other.
"We can't relax and let them play. I remember at WAFCON in Morocco, what cost us against them was because we allowed them to play their game.
"It was in the second half that we stepped up our game but by then it was too late for us to come back. We can't let that happen again, so we have to take the fight to them.
"From the start to the end, we will hunt them so that they can feel our own heat and know that we really need this qualification."
The first leg will be played in Abuja, and the NFF have called on fans to pack the stands in support of the Super Falcons. Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart is bracing for the hostility but says it is an advantage to play away first.
"It's going to be tough, but we are up for the challenge and the hostility we are going to face," she said. "It's always best to play away first, so I think we have an advantage as well. Playing away first alleviates the pressure."
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis told the media: "Our players are used to those things like going to stadiums where you play with away crowds. It is what you do on the field and execute plans as a group on the field that matters.
"Obviously, playing in an away country, we know how passionate they are about football."
Qualification will see Banyana equal the Super Falcon's three appearances at the Games after their appearances in 2012 and 2020, and Ellis wants the fans at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to help get the team over the line in the second leg.
"I think it is important we have a huge crowd," said Ellis. "We want the South African fans to be the 12th and 13th player. That happened at the COSAFA Cup and we have seen what that has done to the team."
Kickoff is at 5PM local time, on April 5 and 9.