WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

My experience will count says history-making Ebi as Super Falcons renew FIFA World Cup title chase

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2023

Nigeria captain and record-setter at the 9^th FIFA Women’s World Cup that began on Thursday, Onome Ebi, says she’s in ‘absolutely great mood’ ahead of Nigeria’s Group B clash with Canada in Melbourne on Friday afternoon.

The venerable central defender is the oldest player at the competition at the age of 40, and is attending her sixth World Cup finals alongside Canada captain Christine Sinclair and Brazil forward Marta.

“I feel really good about this World Cup. It is going to be a lot different. We are ready and committed as a team to make Nigeria proud. Personally, I am in an absolutely great mood.

“A lot will ride on our first match against Canada and what we’re able to take out of that. Which is why we are fully focused. Since our arrival in Melbourne on Thursday, we have been talking about nothing else. Our spirit is high, and we are confident of a positive result.”

Nigeria and Canada go toe-to-toe at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium starting at 12.30pm Friday (3:30am in Nigeria), with Ebi and Sinclair to shake hands in pre-match formalities.

“I respect her for what she has done, scoring 190 international goals. But we will have to put all that aside for the 90 minutes of the match. It is going to be serious business,” Ebi said.

The Nigeria defender will win her 108^th cap in Friday’s tie, while playing her 15^th FIFA World Cup match.

Nigeria reached the Round of 16 at the last tournament in France four years ago, but Ebi says the Super Falcons are aiming higher this time around.

“Our target is high, but we want to take it one match at a time. The focus for now is Canada, and then we can plan and strategize for the next opponents after that. We are committed to making our country proud.”

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!

Published

2 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria Super Falconets gave Nigerians additional joy after their 4-0 defeat of Venezuela in Cali, Colombia in their last group match. Their victory followed up with an earlier 3-0 win by the Super Eagles in their opening Group D match with Benin Republic in Uyo.

The Falconets’ win means they have qualified for the Round of 16 where they are most likely going to face Japan when the group games are completed on Sunday.

Both Nigeria and Germany tied on six points, but Germany have one goal better than Nigeria on goal difference.

The Super Falcons made early hays when Amina Bello put Nigeria ahead after 16 minutes. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu doubled the lead in the 28^th minute before Flourish Sebastine put in the third five minutes into the added time of the first half. Joy Igbokwe put in the back breaker four minutes into the added time of the second hald.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Okwuchukwu shines despite Nigeria’s defeat to Germany in U-20 Women’s World Cup

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign suffered a setback as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against a clinical German side in Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday night.

The result secures Germany’s place in the knockout stages, while leaving the Falconets with work to do in their final group match.

In an end-to-end encounter, both sides created numerous chances, but it was Germany who struck first. Cora Zicai’s pinpoint cross found Alara Sehitler, who nodded home in the 17th minute to give the Europeans the lead.

Nigeria’s star performer, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, had earlier come close to opening the scoring with a magnificent solo run, only to be denied by German goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk.

Okwuchukwu’s persistence paid off early in the second half when she capitalized on a defensive mix-up to draw Nigeria level, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘siuuu’ celebration.

However, Germany’s quality shone through as they regained the lead through Sofie Zdebel, again assisted by the impressive Zicai.

Despite Okwuchukwu having another goal ruled out for offside, Germany sealed the win in stoppage time with Sarah Ernst’s powerful header.

The defeat leaves Nigeria on three points from two matches, with their final group game against Venezuela in Cali now crucial to their hopes of progressing.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Points of Note in Falconets’ loss to Germany

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Germany beat Nigeria’s Falconets 3-1 in their second group game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. With Germany’s win, the Europeans have made it to the last 16 stage, even with a game to spare.

The coach of Germany, Kathrin Peter acknowledged the efforts of the Nigerian team , saying: “It was a really tough match today.

“That was expected, but we actually had big problems in defence. They had a few chances where we had the necessary luck, we have to admit that.

“But in the second half we were really good and asserted our dominance and I think we deserved to win in the end.”

Here are some major points:

Germany beat Nigeria 2-0 in the final match 14 years ago in Germany.

Germany have now won their last four FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup meetings with Nigeria. Alex Popp inspired a 2-0 victory in the 2010 final, Lena Petermann settled the decider in extra-time four year later, and Stefanie Sanders was the solitary scorer in Group D in 2018.