A match Nigerians are keen for as Canada play Ireland

Nigerians both in Australia and elsewhere will watch with keen interest the Group B clash of Canada and Republic of Ireland.

Both teams come into this crunch Group B clash in Perth/Boorloo knowing that a victory is vital to their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Canada were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in their opening match, in which they were left to rue Christine Sinclair’s penalty miss.

With joint-hosts Australia awaiting in their third group contest, the Canadians are well aware that three points are essential in this one if they are to advance to the knockout stage for a third consecutive tournament.

Debutantes the Republic of Ireland went down 1-0 to Australia in their curtain-raiser, despite producing a valiant display. The Girls in Green competed extremely well, with the co-hosts’ goal coming from the penalty spot, while they showed plenty of attacking threat, and their nine attempts at goal will give them confidence ahead of this encounter.

Here are statistics ahead of the clash.

• Last meeting:12/03/2014, Canada 2-1 Republic of Ireland, Women’s Cyprus Cup 2014, GSP Stadium, Nicosia (Cyprus)
• Key facts: Canada have lost only one of their last seven FIFA Women’s World Cup group matches (W3 D3 L1).
• Against Nigeria, Canada’s Christine Sinclair became the second-oldest player to feature at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, at the age of 40 years and 39 days. The oldest player to make an appearance in FIFA Women’s World Cup history is Brazil’s Formiga, who lined up against France in 2019 aged 41 years and 112 days.
• Canada have kept five clean sheets in their last seven FIFA Women’s World Cup groupstage outings.
• Canada kept a clean sheet in each of their first two matches in the last two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• Against Australia, Abbie Larkin became the youngest-ever player to represent the Republic of Ireland at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 18 years and 84 days. She is the only teenager in Vera Pauw’s squad.

CANADA TEAM FACTS

• Overall record: Play28, Win 8, Draw 6, Lost 14, Goals For: 34, Goals Against:52,  Goal Difference: -18
• Biggest win: Canada 4-0Ghana (15/09/2007)
• Biggest defeat: Canada 0-7. Norway (08/08/1995)
• Highest scoring match: 8 goals – Canada 1-7 Norway (23/06/1999)
• Most goals scored in a match: 4 – Canada 4-0 Ghana (15/09/2007)
• Most goals conceded in a match: 7 – Canada 0-7 Norway (08/08/1995)/Canada 1-7 Norway (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 and 2019-present)
• Successive clean sheets: 2 (2015 and 2019)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM FACTS

• Overall record: Play1,  Win 0,  Draw 0, Lost 1, Goals For: 0, Goals Against: 1,  Goal Difference: -1
• Biggest win: Nil
• Biggest defeat: 0-1 Republic of Ireland v. Australia (20/07/2023)
• Highest scoring match: 1 goal – Republic of Ireland 0-1 Australia (20/07/2023)
• Most goals scored in a match: 0
• Most goals conceded in a match: 1 – Republic of Ireland 0-1 Australia (20/07/2023)
• Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 (2023 – 1 match)
• Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0 (2023 – 1 match)
• Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 1 match)
• Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 1 match)

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS

• Successive wins: 0
• Successive defeats: 1 (2023-present)
• Successive draws: 0
• Successive matches without a defeat: 0
• Successive matches without a win: 1 (2023-present)
• Successive matches with a goal scored: 0
• Successive matches without scoring: 1 (2023-present) Successive clean sheets: 0