WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Statistical background as South Africa seek redemption in Argentina duel
Argentina and South Africa will both be looking to not only get off the mark in this edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup but earn their first-ever victories in the history of the tournament.
This will be Argentina’s 11th outing in four instalments of the competition, and the CONMEBOL representatives will see it as a good opportunity to get their first win under their belts in what is their inaugural contest against a team from Africa at the finals.
They will take heart from their opening performance against Italy, when they looked to be on course to hold their opponents to a creditable goalless draw, only to concede in the 87th minute.
South Africa were equally unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a late goal, having taken the lead early in the second half against Sweden before ultimately going down 2-1 to a 90th-minute winner.
They will, however, take confidence from their performance and look to bounce back in this Group G encounter.
- Head-to-Head: Both have never met
KEY FACTS
- This will be the first time that Argentina have faced African opposition at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Argentina have yet to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup match in ten attempts (Draw: 2,Lost 8).
- Against Italy, Argentina’s Vanina Correa became the oldest goalkeeper to have made an appearance at the finals, at the age of 39 years and 344 days.
- Each of Argentina’s five goals at the finals have been scored in the second half. Their earliest goal to date was scored by Eva González in the 60th minute of their 6-1 defeat against England in 2007.
- This is South Africa’s first FIFA Women’s World Cup match against South American opposition.
- Against Sweden, Bambanani Mbane became the oldest player to have featured in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match for South Africa, at the age of 33 years and 133 days.
ARGENTINA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 10, Win 0, Draw 2, Lost 8, Goals For: 5, Goals Against: 38, Goal Difference: -33
- Biggest win: nil
- Biggest defeat: Argentina 0-11Germany (10/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 11 goals – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Argentina 3-3 Scotland (19/06/2019)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 11 – Argentina 0-11 Germany (10/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2019 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2003 (3 matches) and 2007 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 18 – 2007 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2019 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: nil
- Successive defeats: 6 (2003-2007)
- Successive draws: 1 (twice, both in 2019)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 1 (twice, both in 2019) Successive matches without a win: 10 (2003-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2003, 2007 and 2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (2019)
SOUTH AFRICA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 4, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 4, Goals For: 2, Goals Against: 10, Goals Difference: -8
- Biggest win: nil
- Biggest defeat: South Africa 04. Germany (17/06/2019)
- Highest scoring match: 4 goals – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
- Most goals scored in a match: 1 – South Africa 1-3 Spain (08/06/2019)/South Africa 1-2 Sweden (23/07/2023)
- 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) and 2023 (1 match)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches) and 2023 (1 match)
- 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: nil
- Successive defeats: 4 (2019-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 4 (2019-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 0
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos will gun for the maximum points when they take on their counterparts from New Zealand on Wednesday night in what is the first match of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic.
Although the game between the host nation Dominican Republic and Ecuador (the other fixture in Group A) is billed as the opening match, Nigeria and New Zealand will do battle at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros from 4 pm local time (9 pm in Nigeria), while the host nation and Ecuador will square up as from 9 pm local time (2 am Thursday in Nigeria).
Bronze medallists in the last edition of the competition in India, the Flamingos are aiming to go farther this time, with Head Coach Bankole Olowookere insisting that he has the ammunition to overcome opponents on their way.
“I have confidence in the girls to deliver the goods at this competition. We have come well-prepared to do even better than we did in India. The Nigeria Football Federation has done everything to prepare the team well, with a two-week final camping here in the Dominican Republic.
“We do not under-rate any of our opponents. However, we will take it one match at a time and produce our best in each game in order to go all the way.”
The Flamingos have previously missed taking part in only one edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals – the 2018 finals in Uruguay.
In the qualifying campaign for this year’s finals, the Nigerian girls notched 25 goals in six matches, with 13 of them scored by clinical forward Harmony Chidi.
After the encounter with New Zealand on Wednesday night, the Flamingos will confront their counterparts from Ecuador, also at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, before their final group phase game against the host nation at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The clash with Ecuador is on Saturday, 19th October while the battle with the host nation is on Tuesday, 22nd October.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has listed Captain Taiwo Afolabi and forwards Harmony Chidi and Peace Effiong in his 21-woman Flamingos’ roster for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals in the Dominican Republic.
The clinical Chidi scored 13 of the team’s record-setting 25 goals in the qualifying series, as the bronze medallists from the last edition of the championship in India barnstormed their way past Central African Republic, Burkina Faso and Liberia in the continental campaign.
Petite midfielder Afolabi will lead the midfield, alongside Faridat Abdulwahab, Shakirat Moshood and Ayomide Rotimi, while first-choice goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma will have Sylvia Echefu and Elizabeth Boniface pushing her to her best all the time.
Taiwo Adegoke leads six other defenders, with Harmony Chidi leading six other forwards including Peace Effiong.
Nigeria will compete in Group A of the 16-nation finals alongside host nation Dominican Republic, Ecuador and New Zealand.
The delegation of Flamingos will depart the shores of Nigeria aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on Tuesday, 1st October for a two-week training tour in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic, ahead of the commencement of the tournament.
FLAMINGOS FOR FIFA U17 WORLD CUP DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2024
Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens)
Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Rokibat Azeez (New Generation Academy); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels)
Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Faridat Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy)
Forwards: Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramotalahi Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aishat Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels); Blessing Ifitezue (Delta Queens)
FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024
Group A: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria
Group B: Spain, USA, Korea Republic, Colombia
Group C: Korea DPR, Mexico, Kenya, England
Group D: Japan, Poland, Brazil, Zambia
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Justin Madugu as a temporary successor to America’s Randy Waldrum, who has stepped down.
The NFF announced that its decision was based on the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Coach Justin Madugu will lead the remaining technical crew and take charge of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, pending the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.
The Super Falcons’ next big engagement is the Women Africa Cup of Nations finals, taking place in Morocco in the summer of next year.
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