WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Statistical preview of Germany- Morocco Women’s World Cup match
Two-time champions Germany and debutants Morocco kick their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigns off in Group H as they meet at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, the same ground where Nigeria’s Super Falcons gamely held the Olympic champions, Canada last Friday
Here are striking points to note:
- Winners in 2003 and 2007, Germany’s qualification for the finals in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand has seen them, like Nigeria’s Super Falcons,maintain their record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament was first staged in 1991.
- Morocco have rewritten the history books after qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. In doing so, they also become the first Arab nation to reach the finals. The Atlas Lionessessecured their spot at the tournament after finishing runners-up at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – their best-ever performance in the continental showpiece.
- Head-to-Head: Both teams have never met at the Women’s World Cup.
- Germany have never failed to qualify for the knockout phase in their previous eight tournament campaigns. They became the first nation to win back-to-back editions of the Women’s World Cup when they triumphed in 2003 and 2007.
- The Germans, tagged Die Nationalelf, have lost only one of their 24 group-stage matches in the tournament. They have won 15 and drawn four of their 19 group outings since a 3-2 defeat to Sweden in 1995.
- Die Nationalelfhave won their opening fixture in seven of their eight appearances at the finals, with the only exception being a 1-1 draw against Italy in 1999.
- Germany have won and kept a clean sheet in each of their previous five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against African nations.
- Morocco earned their place at the finals courtesy of their exploits at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished runners-up to South Africa. Ghizlane Chebbak captained the team at the continental competition, playing a pivotal role in their run to the final en route to claiming the Player of the Tournament crown.
GERMANY TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play44, Win 30, Draw 5, Lost 9, Goals For 121. Goals Against 39 Goal Difference: 82
- Biggest win: 11-0 Germany v. Argentina (10/09/2007)
- Biggest defeat: 0-4 Germany v. Sweden (29/11/1991)
- Highest scoring match: 11 goals – Germany 11-0 Argentina (10/09/2007)
- Most goals scored in a match: 11 – Germany 11-0 Argentina (10/09/2007)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 5 – Germany 2-5 United States (27/11/1991)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 25 – 2003 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 7 – 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 10 – 1991 (6 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 – 1991 (6 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 7 (2003-2007 and 2007-2011)
- Successive defeats: 2 (1991 and 2015) Successive draws: 1 (five times)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 15 (2003-2011)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 11 (1999-2007)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2015)
- Successive clean sheets: 6 (2007)
MOROCCO TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play0. Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 0, Goals For 0, Goals Against 0, Goal Difference 0.
- Biggest win: nil
- Biggest defeat: nil
- Highest scoring match: nil
- Most goals scored in a match: nil
- Most goals conceded in a match: nil
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: nil
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: nil
- Successive defeats: nil
- Successive draws: nil
- Successive matches without a defeat: nil
- Successive matches without a win: nil
- Successive matches with a goal scored: nil
- Successive matches without scoring: nil
- Successive clean sheets: nil
Spain thrashed England 4-0 to move a step closer to automatic qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup finals, with Germany booking their spot thanks to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Norway in the penultimate round of European qualifiers on Friday.
With the top teams from each of the four A groups qualifying automatically, Germany’s win gave them an unassailable four-point lead over Norway in Group A4 with one game left, while Spain and England are both locked on 12 points at the top of Group A3.
England’s hopes of securing a spot with a win in Mallorca were quickly snuffed out, with Patri Guijarro giving the Spaniards the lead in the 19th minute and Alexia Putellas making it 2-0 before the break.
There appeared to be nothing England could do to stop the Spanish juggernaut, with Putellas adding a second goal 10 minutes after the break and Claudio Pina putting the icing on the cake with a goal from a superb pass by Aitana Bonmati to make it 4-0.
England retain a chance of qualifying directly, but they will have to get a better result when they host Ukraine next Tuesday than Spain manage in their final fixture away to Iceland.
There was late drama in Group A2 as Ireland’s Amber Barrett netted a 90th-minute goal to snatch a 3-2 home win over the Netherlands to move above the Dutch and into second place in the group, one point behind leaders France, who beat Poland 2-0.
The Irish play France in their final game in Grenoble, with the Dutch taking on Poland at home.
Earlier, Pernille Harder came off the bench and scored the winner for Denmark as they downed neighbours Sweden 2-1 to end the Swedes’ hopes of qualifying directly.
The Danes top Group A1 on 11 points ahead of their final game against bottom side Serbia, while second-placed Italy, who are three points behind the leaders, next host Sweden.
-Reuters
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s Falconets have been handed a challenging but promising draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after they were placed in Group F alongside former champions Spain, China PR and debutants New Caledonia.
The draw for the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup was conducted in Lodz on Thursday, setting the stage for the tournament scheduled to run from 5 to 27 September across four Polish cities.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s most successful teams at the competition, will face a stern opening-round test against European powerhouse Spain, which won the title in Costa Rica in 2022. China PR also brings a considerable pedigree to the group, while New Caledonia will be making their maiden appearance at the global finals.
The Falconets will be hoping to improve on their performance at the last edition and rekindle memories of their best outings, when they reached the final in 2010 and 2014.
Hosts Poland headline Group A alongside Argentina, Benin and Mexico, while defending champions Korea DPR begin their title defence in Group E against Colombia, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Other intriguing group-stage fixtures include Brazil, England, Canada and Tanzania in Group B, while France, Korea Republic, Ghana and Ecuador make up Group C. Group D features former champions Japan and USA alongside New Zealand and Italy.
The full draw is as follows:
- Group A: Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Benin
- Group B: Brazil, England, Canada, Tanzania
- Group C: France, Korea Republic, Ghana, Ecuador
- Group D: Japan, USA, New Zealand, Italy
- Group E: Korea DPR, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal
- Group F: Spain, Nigeria, China PR, New Caledonia
The tournament will mark Poland’s first major global women’s football event, with matches to be played in Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Lodz and Sosnowiec.
Six nations — Benin, Ecuador, New Caledonia, Poland, Portugal and Tanzania — will make their debut appearances, while Korea DPR and the USA are both chasing a record fourth title.
Visit Sports Village Channel for more news:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria’s Falconets will discover their opponents for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup when the official draw is conducted in Łódź, Poland, on May 15, as preparations intensify for another campaign on the global stage.
The draw ceremony, confirmed by football’s world governing body, FIFA, will take place in one of the tournament’s host cities and will be broadcast live worldwide on FIFA+, YouTube and TikTok.
Nigeria, one of the most successful nations in the history of the competition, heads into the draw with renewed ambition after securing qualification for the tournament, which will run from September 5 to 27 across the Polish cities of Bielsko-Biała, Katowice, Łódź and Sosnowiec.
The Falconets remain one of Africa’s strongest representatives at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, having reached the final twice in the competition’s history. The Nigerian side will now await the outcome of the draw to know their group-stage opponents among the 24 qualified teams expected to battle for the title.
Former Polish international and current women’s national team coach Nina Patalon and French football legend Laura Georges will participate in the ceremony, underscoring the growing profile of women’s football globally.
Speaking ahead of the event, Patalon described the draw as a defining moment for both participating teams and supporters.
“The draw always brings a special sense of excitement, as it is the moment when the competition truly starts to feel real for both the teams and the fans,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of hosting the tournament in Poland, noting that it could inspire more young girls to embrace football and further accelerate the development of the women’s game in the country.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is expected to showcase some of the brightest emerging talents in women’s football, with Nigeria’s Falconets aiming to make another strong impression on the world stage
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA Expresses Regret Over Referee’s U.S. Entry Denial Ahead of World Cup
England’s Spence Follows Osimhen’s Masked Path to World Cup
Nigeria’s Loss, France’s Gain as Olise Underlines World Cup Importance with Hat-Trick
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup1 week ago
Iran beat Gambia as federation seeks FIFA clarity over visas
- World Cup1 week ago
Attack-minded Ivorians bullish ahead of World Cup return
- World Cup5 days ago
Rema, Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr Make FIFA’s Star-Studded World Cup 2026 Official Album
- World Cup4 days ago
FIFA bans vuvuzelas from World Cup stadiums
- World Cup4 days ago
Shakira to Headline FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in Mexico
- International Football2 days ago
Eriksen Suffers Fresh Collapse During Denmark Friendly, Reviving Memories of Euro 2020 Ordeal
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Soname Rewards Flamingos with N4.5m Goal Bonus After Guinea Rout
- World Cup2 days ago
Pelé’s 1970 World Cup Hideaway Becomes Tourist Attraction as Mexico Hosts Tournament for Record Third Time