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

With a 10-goal deficit, Nigeria’s Super Falcons seek redemption in friendly duel with France’s Les Bleues

Published

3 weeks ago

November 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Last time out as Super Falcons struggled to score against France at the 2019 Women's World Cup

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are set for an encounter with France’s Les Bleues in a friendly match on 30 November at the Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers. It will commence at 9.30pm local time.

It will be the fourth time both teams will be meeting following three encounters in Germany in the 2011 Women’s World Cup and that of 2019 in France as well as a friendly match in 2018.

In those three matches, the Nigerian side lost without scoring a goal.

While the losses in the Women’s World Cup matches were respectable, 1-0 defeats, the friendly match of 6 April 2018 was scandalous, an 8-0 loss that brought aggregate losses to 10-0.

But the friendly match in view may present a different ball game as the initial ageing Super Falcons is now being rebuilt.

Fresh from a two-match friendly duel with the Green Ladies of Algeria in Nigeria, nine-time African champions Super Falcons are expected to build on the gains of the two friendly matches as they work towards regaining their African title next year in Morocco.

The rebuilding process has incorporated a good number of home-based professionals giving great promise to the squad being coached by Justine Madugu.

While the friendly match serves as part of Nigeria’s build up to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year, France will be using it for their preparations for the League of Nations in the spring and the 2025 UEFA Euro Women’s Championship in Switzerland.

It is only the seventh time in their history that the Les Bleues will play in the city of Angers.

Past Encounters

26 Jun 2011: Nigeria 0-1 France Women’s World Cup

6 April 2018: France 8-0 Nigeria Friendly match

17 Jun 2019: Nigeria 0-1 France Women’s World Cup

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Muslim footballer says ready to play in tracksuit bottoms

Published

3 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Former Somalia captain Iqra Ismail said she has spoken with the Football Association (FA) and is ready to resume playing while wearing tracksuit bottoms after she was barred from a match for not wearing shorts.

Ismail said in an Instagram video earlier this week that she had been playing in the Greater London Women’s Football League (GLWFL) for five years wearing tracksuit bottoms but was not allowed to come on as a substitute on Sunday for United Dragons.

On Wednesday, the FA said women players across its competitions are allowed to wear clothing that follows their religious beliefs.

“I have been in contact with senior members of the FA and Middlesex County FA, they’ve been really supportive and are actively working to make sure nothing like this happens again,” the 24-year-old, who captained Somalia in 2019, said in a video posted to X on Thursday.

“And I am pleased to say, as of this weekend, I will be back on the pitch playing football in my tracksuit bottoms.”

The GLWFL said this week it was their understanding that players were required to wear shorts on top of clothing that covered their legs, but had since been informed it was not so and had passed along the guidance to their match officials.

-Reuters

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Nigeria Football Federation General Secretary hails Flamingos despite quarter-finals ouster

Published

3 weeks ago

October 30, 2024

Kunle Solaja

NFF Executive Committee member, Margaret Icheen (right) with Coach Bankole and the players on arrival.

General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi has formally welcomed the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, from the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic, saying the ladies put up a good fight and need to be encouraged despite quarter-final elimination by the United States of America.

“The Nigeria Football Federation is proud of the Flamingos and the efforts they put into the competition. Two years ago, they defeated the USA on penalties at the same stage, on their way to collecting the bronze medals. That is football for you.

“If you watched their games, you will agree that the girls put up a great fight in every match. They swept through their group phase, collecting the maximum nine points and scoring nine goals while conceding only one. They created several chances against the USA but were quite unlucky. This is a good team and the players must be encouraged going forward. I believe a good number of them have the skill, temperament and discipline to progress to the U20 squad.”

The Flamingos’ delegation returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, after the 0-2 defeat in the hands of USA in Santiago de los Caballeros ended their race in the tournament. The girls had spanked New Zealand 4-1, routed Ecuador 4-0 and pipped host nation Dominican Republic 1-0 in overhauling their Group A.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere said: “Against the USA, it was simply not our day. The girls created opportunities but the ball just wouldn’t go in. The Americans took their chances, and that is football for you. We will start to work immediately at raising an even stronger team for the next edition, as the tournament is now annual and the work must start now.”

The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic will be the last to be played on a biennial basis, with the competition to be played yearly from next year and Morocco to host the first five editions.