WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Redemption or destruction: Zambia’s fate hang in the balance in Women’s World Cup clash with Spain
At 8.30am Nigerian time on Wednesday, Zambia will clash with Spain in an encounter that may decide their fate in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Spain and Zambia experienced contrasting fortunes in their opening matches of Group C as the European side produced their biggest-ever victory in the competition’s history with the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica. Zambia on the other hand, suffered a 0-5 loss to Japan.
Last week’s three-goal victory will give Spain a huge confidence boost as they come into their second match knowing another victory in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau will put them in pole position to reach the round of 16.
In their debut match in the competition, Zambia held Japan at bay for the majority of the first half but a goal just before half-time dented their morale and four second-half goals saw them suffer defeat in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match.
They have played a number of friendlies against European opposition in the build-up to this tournament, including an excellent 3-2 win over Germany, and they will be looking to bounce back in positive fashion here.
Here are statistics ahead of the clash.
- Head-to-Head: Both are meeting for the first time ever.
Key facts
- Spain have kept a clean sheet in their last two FIFA Women’s World Cup group matches.
- With her goal against Costa Rica, Esther González became the oldest goalscorer for Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 30 years and 225 days, claiming the record from Jennifer Hermoso (29 years and 46 days when she played against the USA in 2019).
- In Spain’s opening match, Salma Paralluelo became the youngest ever player to represent the nation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at 19 years and 250 days.
- Irene Paredes and Alexia Putellas are the only players to have featured in all of Spain’s previous eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (3-2015, 4-2019, 1-2023).
- Two of Zambia’s squad are attached to Spanish clubs: Hellen Mubanga (Zaragoza CFF) and Racheal Kundananji (Madrid CFF).
SPAIN TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play8, Win 2, Draw 2, Lost 4, Goals For 9, Goals Against 8, Goal Difference: 1
- Biggest win: Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (21/07/2023)
- Biggest defeat: Spain 0-1Brazil (13/06/2015); Spain 1-2 Korea Republic (17/06/2015), Spain 0-1 Germany (12/06/2019) and Spain 2-1 USA (24/06/2019)
- Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019), Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (21/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 2 – Korea Republic 2-1 Spain (17/06/2015), Spain 1-2 USA (24/06/2019)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2019 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2015 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2015)
- Successive draws: 1 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 1 (four times, most recently 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 2 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
ZAMBIA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play1, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 1, Goals For: 0, Goal Against: 5, Goal Difference: -5
- Biggest win: Nil
- Biggest defeat: Zambia 0-5Japan (22/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match:5 goals – Zambia 0-5 Japan (22/07/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 0
- Most goals conceded in a match: 5 – Zambia 0-5 Japan (22/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 5 (2023 – 1 match)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 5 (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!
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/flourish.jpg)
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 28th 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
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/chiamaka-okwuchukwu-nigeriau20.webp)
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
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GWqsbLhX0AAKxiF.jpeg)
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.
- This was just Nigeria’s third loss in their past 24 group matches at the tournament.
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