WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
A match Nigerians are keen for as Canada play Ireland
Nigerians both in Australia and elsewhere will watch with keen interest the Group B clash of Canada and Republic of Ireland.
Both teams come into this crunch Group B clash in Perth/Boorloo knowing that a victory is vital to their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Canada were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in their opening match, in which they were left to rue Christine Sinclair’s penalty miss.
With joint-hosts Australia awaiting in their third group contest, the Canadians are well aware that three points are essential in this one if they are to advance to the knockout stage for a third consecutive tournament.
Debutantes the Republic of Ireland went down 1-0 to Australia in their curtain-raiser, despite producing a valiant display. The Girls in Green competed extremely well, with the co-hosts’ goal coming from the penalty spot, while they showed plenty of attacking threat, and their nine attempts at goal will give them confidence ahead of this encounter.
Here are statistics ahead of the clash.
- Last meeting:12/03/2014, Canada 2-1 Republic of Ireland, Women’s Cyprus Cup 2014, GSP Stadium, Nicosia (Cyprus)
- Key facts: Canada have lost only one of their last seven FIFA Women’s World Cup group matches (W3 D3 L1).
- Against Nigeria, Canada’s Christine Sinclair became the second-oldest player to feature at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, at the age of 40 years and 39 days. The oldest player to make an appearance in FIFA Women’s World Cup history is Brazil’s Formiga, who lined up against France in 2019 aged 41 years and 112 days.
- Canada have kept five clean sheets in their last seven FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage outings.
- Canada kept a clean sheet in each of their first two matches in the last two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Against Australia, Abbie Larkin became the youngest-ever player to represent the Republic of Ireland at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 18 years and 84 days. She is the only teenager in Vera Pauw’s squad.
CANADA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play28, Win 8, Draw 6, Lost 14, Goals For: 34, Goals Against:52, Goal Difference: -18
- Biggest win: Canada 4-0Ghana (15/09/2007)
- Biggest defeat: Canada 0-7. Norway (08/08/1995)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Canada 1-7 Norway (23/06/1999)
- Most goals scored in a match: 4 – Canada 4-0 Ghana (15/09/2007)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 7 – Canada 0-7 Norway (08/08/1995)/Canada 1-7 Norway (23/06/1999)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 10 – 2003 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2011 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 1995 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2015 (5 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 3 (2003) Successive defeats: 3 (three times)
- Successive draws: 2 (2015)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 4 (2015)
- Successive matches without a win: 7 (1995-2003)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 12 (1999-2007)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2011 and 2019-present)
- Successive clean sheets: 2 (2015 and 2019)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play1, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 1, Goals For: 0, Goals Against: 1, Goal Difference: -1
- Biggest win: Nil
- Biggest defeat: 0-1 Republic of Ireland v. Australia (20/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match: 1 goal – Republic of Ireland 0-1 Australia (20/07/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 0
- Most goals conceded in a match: 1 – Republic of Ireland 0-1 Australia (20/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 (2023 – 1 match)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 (2023 – 1 match)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 1 match)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 1 match)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 0
- Successive defeats: 1 (2023-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 1 (2023-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 0
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (2023-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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