WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Facts before the match as South Africa face Sweden
South Africa will on Sunday be the third of the four African teams to play their opening match in the on-going Women’s World Cup.
This Group G match represents the first FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter between Sweden and South Africa. Overall, it is their third competitive meeting as they have met twice in the group stage at the Olympics, with Sweden winning both times; 4-1 in 2012 and 1-0 in 2016.
Runners-up in 2003, Sweden’s qualification for Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand 2023 has maintained their record of appearing at every FIFA Women’s World Cup™ since the inaugural tournament in 1991.
South Africa will be making their second successive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup following their debut at France 2019, which ended in the group stage. Confidence within their camp will be at an all-time high after winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – their first-ever continental title – which secured their ticket for the finals in Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand.
Last meeting:
22/01/2019: South Africa 0-0 Sweden, friendly, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)
KEY FACTS
Sweden reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the fourth time in 2019 where they were edged out 1-0 after extra time by the Netherlands. They went on to defeat England 2-1 in the match for third place.
The earliest goal in Women’s World Cup history was scored by Sweden’s Lena Videkull after just 30 seconds in their 8-0 victory against Japan in the 1991 group stage. It is a result which remains their biggest win at the finals.
Sweden are unbeaten in their last four FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against African nations (W2 D2).
Caroline Seger is set to make her 18th Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on Sweden’s all-time list alongside Therese Sjögran. Only Hedvig Lindahl (20) has made more than 18 appearances for Sweden in the competition.
A 2-1 victory against Morocco in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final saw South Africa win their first-ever continental title after finishing as runners-up on five previous occasions. Pivotal to their success was goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who kept three clean sheets in six games and claimed the Best Goalkeeper award at the conclusion of the tournament.
Thembi Kgatlana claimed the honour of scoring South Africa’s first Women’s World Cup goal in a 3-1 defeat against Spain in their opening match at the 2019 finals.
SWEDEN TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: P: 40 W: 23 D: 5 L: 12 F: 71 A: 48 GD: 23
- Biggest win: 8-0 Sweden v. Japan (19/11/1991)
- Biggest defeat: 1-4 Sweden v. Norway (27/11/1991)/1-4 Sweden v. Germany (20/06/2015)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Japan 0-8 Sweden (19/11/1991)
- Most goals scored in a match: 8 – Japan 0-8 Sweden (19/11/1991)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – Sweden 1-4 Norway (27/11/1991)/Germany 4-1 Sweden (20/06/2015)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 18 – 1991 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2007 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2015 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 1995 (4 matches)/2007 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 5 (2007-2011)
- Successive defeats: 2 (1999-2003)
- Successive draws: 3 (2015)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 5 (2007-2011)
- Successive matches without a win: 4 (2015)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 14 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
- Successive clean sheets: 3 (1991)
SOUTH AFRICA TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: P: 3 W: 0 D: 0 L: 3 F: 1 A: 8 GD: -7
- Biggest win: n/a
- Biggest defeat: 0-4 South Africa v. Germany (17/06/2019)
- Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)/South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
- Most goals scored in a match: 1 – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2019 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 0
- Successive defeats: 3 (2019-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (2019-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2019)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019-present)
Successive clean sheets: 0
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Flamingos Set for Morocco 2025 as Nigeria’s U-17s Depart Abuja for Final World Cup Preparations
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will depart Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8, as they begin the final leg of preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Morocco.
The team will travel aboard Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco’s industrial and economic hub, where they will set up camp ahead of the tournament.
During their stay in Casablanca, the Flamingos will step up their build-up programme with two high-profile international friendlies — first against New Zealand on October 10, and then Paraguay on October 14.
Following their training camp, the team will move into the official FIFA hotel in Rabat on October 15, joining other participating nations as the countdown begins to the global showpiece.
Drawn in Group D, Nigeria will face Canada, France, and Samoa in what promises to be a competitive group. The Flamingos will begin their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before locking horns with France three days later.
Both matches will be played at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Sale, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. Nigerian time. Their final group match comes against Samoa on October 25, starting at 5 p.m., also in Sale.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side heads into the tournament brimming with confidence after a remarkable build-up.
The Flamingos have played 10 tune-up games, scoring an impressive 44 goals without conceding any, a record that highlights their attacking prowess and defensive discipline.
Olowookere has expressed optimism about his team’s readiness, noting that the squad’s balance and form give them belief they can surpass their quarter-final finish at the last edition in the Dominican Republic.
With a perfect preparation run and growing momentum, the Flamingos will be aiming to make history in Morocco and bring pride to Nigerian women’s football once again.
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Nigeria’s U17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, are rounding off their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco with a string of dominant performances that underscore their growing confidence and team chemistry.
In a remarkable build-up campaign, the Flamingos have played eight friendly matches in Abuja, winning all and maintaining a perfect defensive record. The team has scored 26 goals without conceding, a run that has lifted morale and heightened expectations ahead of their World Cup challenge.
Last week, the team showcased their attacking prowess with a convincing 3–0 victory over Abuja All-Stars.
Praise Agba opened the scoring from a loose ball, Olamide Olanrewaju doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and Zainab Raji sealed the win with a thunderous strike shortly after the restart. Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu was outstanding between the sticks, producing several key saves to preserve another clean sheet.
Earlier, the Flamingos overcame a rain-disrupted clash against Josiah Academy, running out 2–0 winners courtesy of a Chisom Nwachukwu brace within the opening 10 minutes before the downpour forced an early end to proceedings.
The girls also recorded emphatic wins over Nazareth Angels (5–0), with Queen Joseph bagging a brace and goals from Praise Agba, Mariam Yahaya, and Chisom Nwachukwu; and Horvel Prime (5–0), where Joseph netted a first-half hat-trick, while captain Shakirat Moshood and Azeezat Oduntan added one apiece.
Across all their tune-up matches, the Flamingos have demonstrated an impressive balance — clinical in attack, disciplined in midfield, and solid at the back — as they fine-tune for global competition.
Drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, Nigeria will depart for Morocco on October 8, aiming to carry their perfect form into the tournament, which runs from October 17 to November 8.
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Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, continued the country’s dominance over Rwanda on the international football stage by securing a 1–0 victory in Kigali on Sunday in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier.
The narrow win comes against the backdrop of two recent triumphs by the Super Eagles over Rwanda in the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, underlining Nigeria’s growing hold in encounters with the East Africans.
At the Kigali-Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, both sides battled fiercely in a goalless first half, with chances at a premium. The breakthrough arrived in the 70th minute when Alaba Olabiyi bundled the ball home from a goalmouth scramble after a Falconets corner. The strike proved enough to hand Coach Moses Aduku a winning start in his first competitive game in charge of the team.
With the victory, the Falconets carry a slim but valuable advantage into the return leg at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, where they will be backed by home support as they push for a place in the next round of qualifiers.
The team’s delegation is expected back in Nigeria on Monday morning to begin preparations for the decisive clash.
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