WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Facts before the match as South Africa face Sweden

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2023

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

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.