WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Facts before the match as Nigeria face uphill task against Canada
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)
Despite wintry conditions in Blida, on the outskirts of the Algerian capital, Algiers, Nigeria’s U17 girls dug their feet into the ground on Friday night.
They achieved a scoreless draw that qualified them for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.
Holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage, the 2002 bronze medallists adopted a calm and collected pattern that easily soaked up the expected pressure from the hosts and then relied on fast breaks to try and pull the trigger on their opponents.
Although they created better chances on the night, the Flamingos failed to make dominance in possession pay, but swiftly collected the ticket to Morocco on a 4-0 aggregate win.
The difference over two legs of the final round was a remarkable display in the opening leg by the Flamingos, during which a brace by Queen Joseph and one each by Zainab Raji and substitute Aisha Animashaun ensured a 4-0 win.
The Flamingos will now be one of Africa’s five representatives (including hosts Morocco) at this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place from 17th October – 5th November. The final competition will entertain 24 teams for the very first time.
Since the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008, Nigeria have failed to make the finals only once – the 2018 tournament hosted by Uruguay.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Despite heavy first leg loss, Algeria hopeful of a turnaround in Nigeria’s Flamingos clash
The Algeria U17 women’s national team still hope for a possible turnaround in this Friday night clash with Nigeria’s Flamingos.
Algeria lost 4-0 in the first leg match in Ikenne last Saturday.
The Algerians completed their preparations on Thursday at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Centre, the eve of the return match against Nigeria.
The return match is scheduled for this Friday at 8 p.m. at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida. Aggregate winners will pick a ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s 2025 World Cup.
According to sources in Algeria, all the players took part in the final session, during which coach Abdenour Mira finalised the tactical details for the make or mar encounter.
Despite the heavy defeat conceded in the first leg (4-0), the young Algerians approach this match with the desire to finish well and deliver an honourable performance against a formidable Nigerian team.
During the technical meeting held early in the afternoon at the FAF headquarters, in the presence of representatives of the two teams and the organisers, it was decided that Algeria will play in green, while Nigeria will wear white.
The match will be officiated by Cameroonian Aline Marie Noelle Guimbang, assisted by her compatriot Laurie Marcelle Tsafack Teikeu and Chadian Victorine Ngarassoum.
The fourth official will also be Cameroonian, Innoncentia Njang Ntangti.
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Under possible cold weather in Blida, Nigeria’s Flamingos set to grab World Cup ticket
The weather is most likely to be cold, but Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, are set to continue a tradition of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, which has had eight editions, out of which the Flamingos featured in seven.
Only Japan, with 100 per cent attendance, has featured in more competitions than Nigeria’s Flamingos.
They look poised to feature again after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria in the first leg of the final qualifying series.
Apart from their opponents, Algeria, they have the expected cold weather to battle with at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida (outside Algiers), on Friday night.
Friday’s encounter against their Algerian counterparts is the final leg of a final qualifying round fixture, with the Flamingos, bronze-medallists from the 2022 finals in India and quarterfinalists from the last edition in the Dominican Republic, holding on to a 4-0 first-leg advantage.
The Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF) has scheduled the match to kick off at 8 pm, at a time when the winds will begin to blow in stronger from the Mediterranean Sea.
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