WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Super Falcons and England go for their respective milestone 30th Women’s World Cup match
When Super Falcons take on England in a Round of 16 Women’s World Cup match at the Brisbane Stadium on Monday, it will be their 30th match in the series since losing 4-0 to Germany in their debut outing on 17 November 1991 in Jiangmen, China.
The same applies to England who have played 29 matches in six editions of the Women’s World Cup.
For Nigeria, no other African team has racked up as many matches in the Women’s World Cup. As they take on England, it is a clash of two teams that progressed through the group stage with impressive unbeaten records.
England have now reached the knockout phase in each of their six FIFA Women’s World Cup participations and their 6-1 victory against China PR last time out equalled their biggest win in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match which they had previously achieved against Argentina in 2007.
Nigeria progressed from a tough group containing Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland and became the first African team to complete a group stage campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup without losing a match. They are making successive appearances in the knockout phase for the first time and are the first African nation to make it to the knockouts on three occasions.
ENGLAND V NIGERIA: HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 10 June 1995; England 3-2 Nigeria, Women’s World Cup
- 23 July 2002; England 0-1 Nigeria, friendly, Norwich Stadium,(England)
- 22April 2004, England 0-3 Nigeria, friendly, Madejski Stadium, Reading (England)
Key facts
- England have won nine of their last 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 9, Lost 2).
- England have scored in 16 successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, breaking the record for most consecutive matches with a goal, which was set by Norway who scored in 15 matches in a row between 1991 and 1999.
- Lucy Bronze is set to make her 17th FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on England’s all-time list alongside Karen Carney, only Jill Scott (21) has played more matches.
- England have scored during the first half in each of their last eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
- Nigeria are facing European opposition in the round of 16 for the second time in a row having lost 3-0 to Germany at this stage of the competition in 2019.
- Nigeria are aiming to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout phase tie for the first time.
ENGLAND TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play29, Win 18. Draw 4, Lost 7, Goals For 51, Goals Against: 31, Goal Difference: 20
- Biggest win: 6-1England v. Argentina (17/09/2007), 6-1 England v. China PR (01/08/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-3 England v. Germany (13/06/1995), 0-3 England v. USA (22/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)/England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – Germany 3-0 England (13/06/1995)/USA 3-0 England (22/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 (4 matches) and 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (4 matches)
ENGLAND’S FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
- Successive draws: 2 (2007)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
- Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (W0 L1)
- 09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (quarter-finals)
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play: 29,Won: 5, Draw: 5, Lost: 19, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 65, Goal Difference: -42
- Biggest win: Nigeria 2-0Denmark (27/06/1999), Nigeria 2-0 Korea Republic (12/06/2019)
- Biggest defeat: Nigeria 0-8Norway (06/06/1995)
- Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (06/06/1995), Nigeria 1-7 USA (24/06/1999)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Nigeria 3-3 Canada (08/06/1995), Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (01/07/1999), Nigeria 3-3 Sweden (08/06/2015)/Nigeria 3-2 Australia (27/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 8 – Nigeria 0-8 Norway (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) and 2023 (3 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 4 (three times)
- Successive draws: 1 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 3 (2023-present)
- 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 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 01/07/1999 Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (quarter-finals)
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.
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