WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
This is Super Falcons’ chance for a third ever knock-out stage qualification
Eliminated Republic of Ireland meet Group B leaders Nigeria in Brisbane/Meaanjin on Monday.
While the Europeans are simply playing for pride, the African representatives need at least a draw to seal their qualification for the knockout stage.
Despite losing both of their matches so far in their debut campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Irish can take plenty of heart from their performances against Australia and Canada.
Katie McCabe’s fourth minute goal against Canada, their first ever in the tournament, got them off to a bright start in their last match before the Olympic champions mounted an impressive comeback to win 2-1. In what is their final game before they depart Australia & New Zealand 2023, Vera Pauw’s team will want to go out in style.
Nigeria are in pole position to progress from Group B and they know that even a draw will do the job. They were impressive in their 3-2 win over joint hosts Australia in their last match and will now look to seal their spot in the round of 16.
KEY FACTS
- Katie McCabe became the first player to score a FIFA Women’s World Cup goal for the Republic of Ireland when she opened the scoring against Canada.
- Nigeria are aiming to reach the knockout rounds at successive FIFA Women’s World Cup final tournaments for the first time. They previously qualified from their group in 1999 and 2019.
- Nigeria’s total of four points is their best start to a FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign after two matches. Their highest points total after three matches is six, which they achieved in 1999.
- A win or a draw would mean Nigeria are unbeaten in three successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches for the first time.
- If Nigeria qualify, they would become the first African nation to reach the knockout rounds on three occasions.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 13 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play 2, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 2, Goals For 1, Goals Against 3, Goal Difference: -2
- Biggest win: Nil
- Biggest defeat: Republic of Ireland 0-2. Australia (20/07/2023) and Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match: 3 goals – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 1 – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 2 – Republic of Ireland 1-2 Canada (26/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 1 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 (2023 – 2 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 (2023 – 2 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: Nil
- Successive defeats: 2 (2023-present)
- Successive draws: 0
- Successive matches without a defeat: 0
- Successive matches without a win: 2 (2023-present)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 1 (2023-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (2023)
- Successive clean sheets: 0
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play28, Win 5, Draw 4, Lost 19, Goals For 23, Goals Against 65, Goal Difference -42
- 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 – 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)and 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)
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: 2 (2011-2015, 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 (four times, the last of which was 2023-present)
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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