WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

A match Nigerians are keen for as Canada play Ireland

Published

3 years ago

July 25, 2023

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

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia

Published

4 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Kunle Solaja

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke poses with Iranian women's soccer team support worker Zahra Soltan Meshkeh Kar and team player Mohaddeseh Zolfi, who were granted asylum overnight, in Australia, March 10, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. @Tony_Burke on X/Handout via REUTERS

Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to ‌Iran, Australia’s government said on Sunday.

Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women’s Asian Cup match.

Four ⁠of the seven members have decided to leave Australia so far. Another member changed her mind last week.

“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.

“While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the ‌players ⁠are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he added.

The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) named the players as Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali and Zahra Meshkehkar.

“After arriving in Malaysia and joining the rest of Iran’s women’s national football team, ⁠the three players will travel to Tehran in the coming days to once again be embraced by their families and homeland,” FFIRI added in ⁠a statement.

The Iranian team’s campaign in the Asian Cup started just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing ⁠the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament last Sunday.

-Reuters

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Australia first to qualify for Women’s World Cup

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Kunle Solaja

Australia became the first nation to qualify for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil with a 2-1 win over North Korea that booked their place in the ‌Asian Cup semi-finals on Friday.

All Asian Cup semi-finalists earn automatic berths to the global showpiece, with the losing quarter-finalists to play off for two more spots on the Gold Coast next week.

Australia midfielder Alanna Kennedy scored her fifth goal at this year’s Asian Cup in ⁠the ninth minute against the North Koreans, while captain Sam Kerr doubled the Matildas’ lead just after the break before Chae Un-Yong pulled one back.

Australia will meet the winners of the match between defending champions China and Taiwan, who clash at the same Perth Rectangular Stadium on Saturday.

“I felt it was a really good team performance, defensively,” said Kerr. “The crowd was immense today, got us over the line. We’re going to need ‌them ⁠again in the semi-final.”

Kennedy has been in fine form for the 2010 champions and pounced when Kerr robbed opposing captain An Kuk-Hyang of the ball on the right side of the penalty area.

Kerr’s cut-back was intercepted but the clearance fell ⁠to Kennedy who lashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box inside the right post.

Kerr stretched the lead with a poacher’s goal in the 47th ⁠minute, swooping on a defensive mistake and thumping in another rising left-foot shot.

North Korea got their consolation goal in the 65th minute when ⁠Kim Kyong-Yong’s cross found Chae who slid the ball home.

Midfielder Emily van Egmond became Australia’s joint most capped player, joining Clare Polkinghorne on 169 appearances.

-Reuters

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Iranian women’s soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer, to return home

Published

4 days ago

March 11, 2026

Kunle Solaja

Supporters of the Iranian women's soccer team gather at Sydney Airport, after five of the players were granted asylum, in Sydney, Australia, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Jeremy Piper

Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation slip their minders to claim asylum, but one has changed her mind ‌and decided to go back to Iran, the country’s interior minister said on Wednesday.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced in parliament the squad member’s decision to return home, after five players from the team were granted asylum a day earlier.

A player and a support staff member accepted the government’s open offer of aid on Tuesday evening.

“One of the two who had made the decision to stay last night had spoken to some of the teammates who had left, and had changed her mind,” Burke told parliament.

“In Australia, people are able to change their mind, ⁠people are able to travel. And so, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.”

It was not immediately clear who had decided to return to Iran.

Burke said the rest of the players have been moved to a safe location after the member contacted the Iranian embassy, giving away their location

Concerns about the players’ safety grew after Iranian state television labelled the team “wartime traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem during the women’s Asian Cup match in Australia earlier this month.

The two additional members of the delegation – 21-year-old striker Mohaddeseh Zolfi and support staffer Zahra Soltan Moshkehkar – were removed from the rest of the team with the aid of Australian Federal Police before they boarded a domestic flight to Sydney.

Before leaving the country, Australian officials separated the remaining team from their Iranian minders at Sydney airport and informed them of their options before they flew out of ‌Australia. All ⁠those that made it to the airport elected to return to Iran.

“What we made sure of was that there was no rushing, there was no pressure. Everything was about ensuring the dignity for those individuals to make a choice,” Burke said during a media briefing in Canberra.

FEAR FOR FAMILIES

Burke said some players had asked him about the possibility of aiding their family members leave Iran.

“Obviously, when people are permanent residents, there are rights that they have in terms of sponsoring other family ⁠members. But all of it only becomes relevant if people can get out of Iran in the first place,” he said.

Some discussed their options with family but declined the offer to remain in Australia. The team has since reached Kuala Lumpur on their way to Iran.

The Iranian team’s campaign in the tournament started just as ⁠the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament on Sunday.

A group of Iranians living in Australia gathered to protest against the Iranian government and surrounded the players’ bus in Gold Coast when they left the ⁠hotel for the airport.

Many also turned up at the Sydney airport on Tuesday evening while they were being transferred to the international terminal, television footage showed.

The office of Iran’s general prosecutor said on Tuesday the remaining members of the team were invited back to the country “with peace and confidence,” Iranian media reported.

-Reuters

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