WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Statistical overview of Nigeria’s duel with Canada
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Friday’s goalless draw of Nigeria and Canada in the Group B match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has yielded points of interest.
First it was the first time that the Nigerian team had played a goalless draw in what was their 27th match in the history of the tournament.
The Super Falcons’ coach, Randy Waldrum at 66 years and 299 days becomes the oldest coach to lead the Super Falcons out in a Women’s World Cup match, claiming the record from Thomas Dennerby (59 years and 313 daysin Nigeria’s match against Germany four years ago.
It was a match that Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie denied record-chasing Canada’s star, Christine Sinclair, a place in the World Cup scoring sheet.
Had the Canadian scored the 50th minute penalty kick, she would have becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. She however became the second-oldest player to make an appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 40 years and 39 days. The oldest player in tournament history is Brazil’s Formiga at 41 years and 112 days in the 2019 edition when Brazil faced France.
When Chiamaka stopped the penalty kick, it meant that four of the last six penalties awarded at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been missed.
Friday’s (early morning in Nigeria) match saw Sophie Schmidt becoming the second Canadian player to feature in five editions of the Women’s World Cup after Christine Sinclair, who has now played in her sixth tournament.
Purists may however have contrary views, especially concerning another Canadian player, Karina LeBlanc, a goalkeeper who also featured in five squads, but did not make an appearance in all of those editions.
With the Super Falcons not scoring in the match, it turned to be the sixth clean sheet that Canada have kept in their last ten FIFA Women’s World Cup outings.
It is also noteworthy that Canada have not conceded a goal in their opening match at three successive Women’s World Cup final competitions.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
What a goal-laden day for Nigeria; Falconets also win with wide margin!
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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.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Okwuchukwu shines despite Nigeria’s defeat to Germany in U-20 Women’s World Cup
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/chiamaka-okwuchukwu-nigeriau20.webp)
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
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GWqsbLhX0AAKxiF.jpeg)
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.
- This was just Nigeria’s third loss in their past 24 group matches at the tournament.
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