WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

A match Nigerians are keen for as Canada play Ireland

Published

1 year ago

July 25, 2023

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 groupstage 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

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

Published

3 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.