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.
