WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Facts before the match as Nigeria face uphill task against Canada

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2023

Match background

This Group B encounter sees Nigeria and Canada meet for the third time at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Their first clash was a 3-3 draw in the 1995 group stage, more recently Nigeria claimed a 1-0 victory in the group stage in 2011.

Nigeria have maintained their ever-present record at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and are the only African team to feature in all nine editions of the competition.

After reaching the round of 16 in 2019, the Super Falcons will need to start well in this tough group if they are to reach the knockout phase once again.

The 2020 Olympic Gold medallists Canada will rightly have high expectations coming into this tournament and they are competing in their eighth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup, having missed only the inaugural tournament in 1991. Canada’s best performance at the finals came at the 2003 edition in the USA when they finished in fourth place. The closest they have come to emulating that feat was in 2015 when they reached the quarter-finals on home soil and they will be looking to progress deep into the tournament once again here.

Last meeting: 11/04/2022, Canada 2-2 Nigeria, friendly, Starlight Stadium, Langford (Canada)

Key facts: Nigeria are the only African team to feature in all nine editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Nigeria’s Onome Ebi is featuring in her sixth Women’s World Cup.

At the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, she became the first-ever African to play in five editions of the competition.

Canada won their opening fixture 1-0 at the last two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Canada’s Christine Sinclair holds several records for her nation at the Women’s World Cup, including most tournaments with an appearance (5), most tournaments with a goal (5), most appearances (21), most goals scored (10), oldest player to make an appearance (36y 12d) and oldest player to score a goal (36y 8d).

The two oldest players at the 2023 finals could potentially feature in this match. Nigeria’s Onome Ebi (40y 74d) and Canada’s Christine Sinclair (40y 39d).

Nigeria team facts

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: P: 26 W: 4 D: 3 L: 19 F: 20 A: 63 GD: -43 Biggest win: 2-0Nigeria v. Denmark (27/06/1999)/2-0 Nigeria v. Korea Republic (12/06/2019) Biggest defeat: 0-8Nigeria v. Norway (06/06/1995) Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Norway 8-0 Nigeria (06/06/1995)/USA 7-1 Nigeria (24/06/1999) Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Nigeria 3-3 Canada (08/06/1995)/Brazil 4-3 Nigeria (01/07/1999)/Sweden 3-3 Nigeria (08/06/2015) Most goals conceded in a match: 8 – Norway 8-0 Nigeria (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)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

Successive wins: 1 (four times) Successive defeats: 4 (three times) Successive draws: 1 (three times) Successive matches without a defeat: 2 (2011-2015) 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 (three times)

Canada team facts

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: P: 27 W: 8 D: 5 L: 14 F: 34 A: 52 GD: -18 Biggest win: 4-0Canada v. Ghana (15/09/2007) Biggest defeat: 0-7Canada v. Norway (08/08/1995) Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Norway 7-1 Canada (23/06/1999) Most goals scored in a match: 4 – Canada 4-0 Ghana (15/09/2007) Most goals conceded in a match: 7 – Norway 7-0 Canada (08/08/1995)/Norway 7-1 Canada (23/06/1999) Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 10 – 2003 (6 matches) Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2011 (3 matches) Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 1995 (3 matches) Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2015 (5 matches)/2019 (4 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

Successive wins: 3 (2003) Successive defeats: 3 (three times) Successive draws: 2 (2015) Successive matches without a defeat: 4 (2015) Successive matches without a win: 7 (1995-2003) Successive matches with a goal scored: 12 (1999-2007) Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2011) Successive clean sheets: 2 (2015 and 2019)

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!

Published

4 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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 28^th 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

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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.