WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Facts before the match as South Africa face Sweden

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2023

South Africa will on Sunday be the third of the four African teams to play their opening match in the on-going Women’s World Cup.

This Group G match represents the first FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter between Sweden and South Africa. Overall, it is their third competitive meeting as they have met twice in the group stage at the Olympics, with Sweden winning both times; 4-1 in 2012 and 1-0 in 2016.

Runners-up in 2003, Sweden’s qualification for Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand 2023 has maintained their record of appearing at every FIFA Women’s World Cup™ since the inaugural tournament in 1991.

South Africa will be making their second successive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup following their debut at France 2019, which ended in the group stage. Confidence within their camp will be at an all-time high after winning the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – their first-ever continental title – which secured their ticket for the finals in Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand.

Last meeting:

22/01/2019: South Africa 0-0 Sweden, friendly, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (South Africa)

KEY FACTS

Sweden reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the fourth time in 2019 where they were edged out 1-0 after extra time by the Netherlands. They went on to defeat England 2-1 in the match for third place.

The earliest goal in Women’s World Cup history was scored by Sweden’s Lena Videkull after just 30 seconds in their 8-0 victory against Japan in the 1991 group stage. It is a result which remains their biggest win at the finals.

Sweden are unbeaten in their last four FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against African nations (W2 D2).

Caroline Seger is set to make her 18th Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on Sweden’s all-time list alongside Therese Sjögran. Only Hedvig Lindahl (20) has made more than 18 appearances for Sweden in the competition.

A 2-1 victory against Morocco in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final saw South Africa win their first-ever continental title after finishing as runners-up on five previous occasions. Pivotal to their success was goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who kept three clean sheets in six games and claimed the Best Goalkeeper award at the conclusion of the tournament.

Thembi Kgatlana claimed the honour of scoring South Africa’s first Women’s World Cup goal in a 3-1 defeat against Spain in their opening match at the 2019 finals.

SWEDEN TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: P: 40 W: 23 D: 5 L: 12 F: 71 A: 48 GD: 23
Biggest win: 8-0 Sweden v. Japan (19/11/1991)
Biggest defeat: 1-4 Sweden v. Norway (27/11/1991)/1-4 Sweden v. Germany (20/06/2015)
Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Japan 0-8 Sweden (19/11/1991)
Most goals scored in a match: 8 – Japan 0-8 Sweden (19/11/1991)
Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – Sweden 1-4 Norway (27/11/1991)/Germany 4-1 Sweden (20/06/2015)
Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 18 – 1991 (6 matches)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2007 (3 matches)
Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 8 – 2015 (4 matches)
Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 1995 (4 matches)/2007 (3 matches)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

Successive wins: 5 (2007-2011)
Successive defeats: 2 (1999-2003)
Successive draws: 3 (2015)
Successive matches without a defeat: 5 (2007-2011)
Successive matches without a win: 4 (2015)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 14 (1995-2007)
Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
Successive clean sheets: 3 (1991)

SOUTH AFRICA TEAM FACTS

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS

Overall record: P: 3 W: 0 D: 0 L: 3 F: 1 A: 8 GD: -7
Biggest win: n/a
Biggest defeat: 0-4 South Africa v. Germany (17/06/2019)
Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)/South Africa 0-4 Germany (17/06/2019)
Most goals scored in a match: 1 – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)
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)
Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 – 2019 (3 matches)
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: 0
Successive defeats: 3 (2019-present)
Successive draws: 0
Successive matches without a defeat: 0
Successive matches without a win: 3 (2019-present)
Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2019)
Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019-present)

Successive clean sheets: 0

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Falconets crash out from U-20 Women’s World Cup

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Colombia 2025: Falconets back in Bogota to trade tackles with Japan

Published

6 days ago

September 10, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The team on return to Bogota on Wednesday.

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, 13^th September.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

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

Published

1 week 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.