WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Super Falcons’ World Cup opponents, Ireland hope to leave legacy
Ever-present Women’s World Cup team, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face Ireland in their last Group B match. But Ireland striker Amber Barrett said they want to leave a lasting legacy at the Women’s World Cup, amid excitement at making their first appearance at the tournament.
The 27-year-old made history for Ireland, scoring the winner as a substitute in their 1-0 victory at Scotland in October, that secured their spot at the tournament.
“That’s the ultimate hope, that we can increase that,(legacy) but not just for the women’s team,” she said in an interview with the FIFA website.
“But also for young boys as well, that they have also the aspiration of, ‘We’ve seen the women do it, we want to be able to do it for the men’s team as well’.
“And I think with that will come, hopefully, more people involved, better players in the future, and then also more Irish teams at major tournaments.”
Barrett warned their World Cup opponents not to underestimate them despite it being their first World Cup.
“We’re going to make it very difficult for everybody,” she said.
“But again, we’re going to also relish the fact that we’re there because there’s only 32 countries in the world get that opportunity. To be one of them is extra special.”
Barrett said that qualifying for the tournament lifted a weight from the team’s shoulders.
“We find that we always do well, but had never done enough to get ourselves to that magical place, which is a European Championship or the World Cup. That feeling for everybody was just unbelievable. It really, really was,” she said.
Ireland will face Australia in Group B on July 20 before playing Canada and Nigeria.
The ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup is being hosted by New Zealand and Australia, with the final scheduled to be played on Aug. 20 in Sydney
-Reuters
Japan survived a late scare against Nigeria to set up a re-match of the 2022 final with Spain in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
In rainy Bogota, Miyu Matsunaga’s free header just after the half hour was enough to send Japan to the break with a lead, as they have done at every match at Colombia 2024.
Maya Hijikata then doubled the advantage midway through the second term, tucking home a cross from substitute Chinari Sasai at the back post; that goal taking her joint-top of the adidas Golden Boot race with Brazil’s Vendito.
Olushola Shobowale did manage to pull one back for Nigeria in stoppage time but they couldn’t find a second as Japan hung on to close out the 2-1 win and set up that epic quarter-final clash with Spain. It is a re-match of the final match of the last edition in Costa Rica two years ago.
Africa’s biggest hope for podium appearance at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals, Nigeria, have returned to the Colombia capital, Bogota, ahead of Friday morning’s Round of 16 clash with Japan.
Japan, one of the strongest forces in women’s football globally, topped Group E that also included Austria, New Zealand and one of Africa’s flag-bearers Ghana. Ghana crashed out of the tournament after losing to Japan and Austria, and a narrow win over New Zealand.
The Falconets reached the Round of 16 after pipping Korea Republic 1-0 and losing 1-3 to Germany, and then earning a fabulous 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.
“The girls have worked very hard to get to this stage, and we are proud of their efforts. We will be taking the knockout stages one match at a time. I must tell you that we are excited at the prospects of facing Japan and what that brings forth,” Coach Chris Musa Danjuma said on his team’s return to the capital on Wednesday night.
The clash between Nigeria and Japan will hold at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota – where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against Korea Republic and Germany – starting from 2am Nigeria time (8pm, Thursday in Colombia) on Friday, 13th September.
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.
Zimbabwe sports minister among candidates for International Olympic Committee presidency
World Athletics boss, Coe and multi-millionaire Eliasch among seven candidates for IOC presidency
Storm in CAF over proposed statutes amendments
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
AFCON6 days agoSuper Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON5 days agoAustin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON6 days agoWhy I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON4 days agoRwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football5 days agoWesterhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON6 days agoNigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON1 week agoHurray, Super Eagles back to winning ways!
-
AFCON4 days agoPresent and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen