WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Super Falcons and England go for their respective milestone 30th Women’s World Cup match
When Super Falcons take on England in a Round of 16 Women’s World Cup match at the Brisbane Stadium on Monday, it will be their 30th match in the series since losing 4-0 to Germany in their debut outing on 17 November 1991 in Jiangmen, China.
The same applies to England who have played 29 matches in six editions of the Women’s World Cup.
For Nigeria, no other African team has racked up as many matches in the Women’s World Cup. As they take on England, it is a clash of two teams that progressed through the group stage with impressive unbeaten records.
England have now reached the knockout phase in each of their six FIFA Women’s World Cup participations and their 6-1 victory against China PR last time out equalled their biggest win in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match which they had previously achieved against Argentina in 2007.
Nigeria progressed from a tough group containing Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland and became the first African team to complete a group stage campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup without losing a match. They are making successive appearances in the knockout phase for the first time and are the first African nation to make it to the knockouts on three occasions.
ENGLAND V NIGERIA: HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 10 June 1995; England 3-2 Nigeria, Women’s World Cup
- 23 July 2002; England 0-1 Nigeria, friendly, Norwich Stadium,(England)
- 22April 2004, England 0-3 Nigeria, friendly, Madejski Stadium, Reading (England)
Key facts
- England have won nine of their last 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 9, Lost 2).
- England have scored in 16 successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, breaking the record for most consecutive matches with a goal, which was set by Norway who scored in 15 matches in a row between 1991 and 1999.
- Lucy Bronze is set to make her 17th FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on England’s all-time list alongside Karen Carney, only Jill Scott (21) has played more matches.
- England have scored during the first half in each of their last eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
- Nigeria are facing European opposition in the round of 16 for the second time in a row having lost 3-0 to Germany at this stage of the competition in 2019.
- Nigeria are aiming to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout phase tie for the first time.
ENGLAND TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play29, Win 18. Draw 4, Lost 7, Goals For 51, Goals Against: 31, Goal Difference: 20
- Biggest win: 6-1England v. Argentina (17/09/2007), 6-1 England v. China PR (01/08/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-3 England v. Germany (13/06/1995), 0-3 England v. USA (22/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)/England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – Germany 3-0 England (13/06/1995)/USA 3-0 England (22/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 (4 matches) and 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (4 matches)
ENGLAND’S FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
- Successive draws: 2 (2007)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
- Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (W0 L1)
- 09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (quarter-finals)
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play: 29,Won: 5, Draw: 5, Lost: 19, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 65, Goal Difference: -42
- Biggest win: Nigeria 2-0Denmark (27/06/1999), Nigeria 2-0 Korea Republic (12/06/2019)
- Biggest defeat: Nigeria 0-8Norway (06/06/1995)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995), Nigeria 1-7 USA (24/06/1999)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Nigeria 3-3 Canada (08/06/1995), Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (01/07/1999), Nigeria 3-3 Sweden (08/06/2015)/Nigeria 3-2 Australia (27/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 8 – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 1999 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 – 1991 and 2003 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 14 – 1995 (3 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2011 (3 matches) and 2023 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 4 (three times)
- Successive draws: 1 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 3 (2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 9 (1999-2011)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 6 (1995-1999)
- Successive matches without scoring: 4 (1991-1995 and 2007-2011)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 01/07/1999 Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (quarter-finals)
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Flamingos Set for Morocco 2025 as Nigeria’s U-17s Depart Abuja for Final World Cup Preparations
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will depart Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8, as they begin the final leg of preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Morocco.
The team will travel aboard Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco’s industrial and economic hub, where they will set up camp ahead of the tournament.
During their stay in Casablanca, the Flamingos will step up their build-up programme with two high-profile international friendlies — first against New Zealand on October 10, and then Paraguay on October 14.
Following their training camp, the team will move into the official FIFA hotel in Rabat on October 15, joining other participating nations as the countdown begins to the global showpiece.
Drawn in Group D, Nigeria will face Canada, France, and Samoa in what promises to be a competitive group. The Flamingos will begin their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before locking horns with France three days later.
Both matches will be played at the Football Academy Mohammed VI in Sale, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. Nigerian time. Their final group match comes against Samoa on October 25, starting at 5 p.m., also in Sale.
Head Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side heads into the tournament brimming with confidence after a remarkable build-up.
The Flamingos have played 10 tune-up games, scoring an impressive 44 goals without conceding any, a record that highlights their attacking prowess and defensive discipline.
Olowookere has expressed optimism about his team’s readiness, noting that the squad’s balance and form give them belief they can surpass their quarter-final finish at the last edition in the Dominican Republic.
With a perfect preparation run and growing momentum, the Flamingos will be aiming to make history in Morocco and bring pride to Nigerian women’s football once again.
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Nigeria’s U17 Women’s National Team, the Flamingos, are rounding off their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco with a string of dominant performances that underscore their growing confidence and team chemistry.
In a remarkable build-up campaign, the Flamingos have played eight friendly matches in Abuja, winning all and maintaining a perfect defensive record. The team has scored 26 goals without conceding, a run that has lifted morale and heightened expectations ahead of their World Cup challenge.
Last week, the team showcased their attacking prowess with a convincing 3–0 victory over Abuja All-Stars.
Praise Agba opened the scoring from a loose ball, Olamide Olanrewaju doubled the lead from the penalty spot, and Zainab Raji sealed the win with a thunderous strike shortly after the restart. Goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu was outstanding between the sticks, producing several key saves to preserve another clean sheet.
Earlier, the Flamingos overcame a rain-disrupted clash against Josiah Academy, running out 2–0 winners courtesy of a Chisom Nwachukwu brace within the opening 10 minutes before the downpour forced an early end to proceedings.
The girls also recorded emphatic wins over Nazareth Angels (5–0), with Queen Joseph bagging a brace and goals from Praise Agba, Mariam Yahaya, and Chisom Nwachukwu; and Horvel Prime (5–0), where Joseph netted a first-half hat-trick, while captain Shakirat Moshood and Azeezat Oduntan added one apiece.
Across all their tune-up matches, the Flamingos have demonstrated an impressive balance — clinical in attack, disciplined in midfield, and solid at the back — as they fine-tune for global competition.
Drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, Nigeria will depart for Morocco on October 8, aiming to carry their perfect form into the tournament, which runs from October 17 to November 8.
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Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, continued the country’s dominance over Rwanda on the international football stage by securing a 1–0 victory in Kigali on Sunday in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier.
The narrow win comes against the backdrop of two recent triumphs by the Super Eagles over Rwanda in the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, underlining Nigeria’s growing hold in encounters with the East Africans.
At the Kigali-Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, both sides battled fiercely in a goalless first half, with chances at a premium. The breakthrough arrived in the 70th minute when Alaba Olabiyi bundled the ball home from a goalmouth scramble after a Falconets corner. The strike proved enough to hand Coach Moses Aduku a winning start in his first competitive game in charge of the team.
With the victory, the Falconets carry a slim but valuable advantage into the return leg at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, where they will be backed by home support as they push for a place in the next round of qualifiers.
The team’s delegation is expected back in Nigeria on Monday morning to begin preparations for the decisive clash.
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