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
Spain thrashed England 4-0 to move a step closer to automatic qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup finals, with Germany booking their spot thanks to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Norway in the penultimate round of European qualifiers on Friday.
With the top teams from each of the four A groups qualifying automatically, Germany’s win gave them an unassailable four-point lead over Norway in Group A4 with one game left, while Spain and England are both locked on 12 points at the top of Group A3.
England’s hopes of securing a spot with a win in Mallorca were quickly snuffed out, with Patri Guijarro giving the Spaniards the lead in the 19th minute and Alexia Putellas making it 2-0 before the break.
There appeared to be nothing England could do to stop the Spanish juggernaut, with Putellas adding a second goal 10 minutes after the break and Claudio Pina putting the icing on the cake with a goal from a superb pass by Aitana Bonmati to make it 4-0.
England retain a chance of qualifying directly, but they will have to get a better result when they host Ukraine next Tuesday than Spain manage in their final fixture away to Iceland.
There was late drama in Group A2 as Ireland’s Amber Barrett netted a 90th-minute goal to snatch a 3-2 home win over the Netherlands to move above the Dutch and into second place in the group, one point behind leaders France, who beat Poland 2-0.
The Irish play France in their final game in Grenoble, with the Dutch taking on Poland at home.
Earlier, Pernille Harder came off the bench and scored the winner for Denmark as they downed neighbours Sweden 2-1 to end the Swedes’ hopes of qualifying directly.
The Danes top Group A1 on 11 points ahead of their final game against bottom side Serbia, while second-placed Italy, who are three points behind the leaders, next host Sweden.
-Reuters
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s Falconets have been handed a challenging but promising draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after they were placed in Group F alongside former champions Spain, China PR and debutants New Caledonia.
The draw for the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup was conducted in Lodz on Thursday, setting the stage for the tournament scheduled to run from 5 to 27 September across four Polish cities.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s most successful teams at the competition, will face a stern opening-round test against European powerhouse Spain, which won the title in Costa Rica in 2022. China PR also brings a considerable pedigree to the group, while New Caledonia will be making their maiden appearance at the global finals.
The Falconets will be hoping to improve on their performance at the last edition and rekindle memories of their best outings, when they reached the final in 2010 and 2014.
Hosts Poland headline Group A alongside Argentina, Benin and Mexico, while defending champions Korea DPR begin their title defence in Group E against Colombia, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Other intriguing group-stage fixtures include Brazil, England, Canada and Tanzania in Group B, while France, Korea Republic, Ghana and Ecuador make up Group C. Group D features former champions Japan and USA alongside New Zealand and Italy.
The full draw is as follows:
- Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin
- Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania
- Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador
- Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy
- Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal
- Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia
The tournament will mark Poland’s first major global women’s football event, with matches to be played in Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Lodz and Sosnowiec.
Six nations — Benin, Ecuador, New Caledonia, Poland, Portugal and Tanzania — will make their debut appearances, while Korea DPR and the USA are both chasing a record fourth title.
Visit Sports Village Channel for more news:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria’s Falconets will discover their opponents for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup when the official draw is conducted in Łódź, Poland, on May 15, as preparations intensify for another campaign on the global stage.
The draw ceremony, confirmed by football’s world governing body, FIFA, will take place in one of the tournament’s host cities and will be broadcast live worldwide on FIFA+, YouTube and TikTok.
Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in the history of the competition, heads into the draw with renewed ambition after securing qualification for the tournament, which will run from September 5 to 27 across the Polish cities of Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Łódź and Sosnowiec.
The Falconets remain one of Africa’s strongest representatives at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, having reached the final twice in the competition’s history. The Nigerian side will now await the outcome of the draw to know their group-stage opponents among the 24 qualified teams expected to battle for the title.
Former Polish international and current women’s national team coach Nina Patalon and French football legend Laura Georges will participate in the ceremony, underscoring the growing profile of women’s football globally.
Speaking ahead of the event, Patalon described the draw as a defining moment for both participating teams and supporters.
“The draw always brings a special sense of excitement, as it is the moment when the competition truly starts to feel real for both the teams and the fans,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of hosting the tournament in Poland, noting that it could inspire more young girls to embrace football and further accelerate the development of the women’s game in the country.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is expected to showcase some of the brightest emerging talents in women’s football, with Nigeria’s Falconets aiming to make another strong impression on the world stage
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Tunisia Turn to Renard for Revival
Iran’s 2-2 Draw With New Zealand Means Asians Remain Unbeaten at World Cup 2026
Iran’s World Cup Match Marked by Political Divisions Among Fans in Los Angeles
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- International Football1 week ago
Eriksen Suffers Fresh Collapse During Denmark Friendly, Reviving Memories of Euro 2020 Ordeal
- World Cup1 week ago
Pelé’s 1970 World Cup Hideaway Becomes Tourist Attraction as Mexico Hosts Tournament for Record Third Time
- World Cup1 week ago
Strike Threat Looms Over USA-Paraguay World Cup Match at SoFi Stadium
- World Cup1 week ago
Iran’s World Cup team arrive in Tijuana with US tensions high
- International Football1 week ago
Iwobi Salutes Nigerians Ahead of Landmark 100th Super Eagles Appearance
- World Cup1 week ago
Nine injured in shooting near England’s World Cup base camp
- WAFCON1 week ago
Falcons Truly Super in 3-0 Defeat of Senegal in Ikenne
- World Cup19 hours ago
Back in Canada After 39 Years: A Return to Where the Journey Began