WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Super Falcons and England go for their respective milestone 30th Women’s World Cup match
When Super Falcons take on England in a Round of 16 Women’s World Cup match at the Brisbane Stadium on Monday, it will be their 30th match in the series since losing 4-0 to Germany in their debut outing on 17 November 1991 in Jiangmen, China.
The same applies to England who have played 29 matches in six editions of the Women’s World Cup.
For Nigeria, no other African team has racked up as many matches in the Women’s World Cup. As they take on England, it is a clash of two teams that progressed through the group stage with impressive unbeaten records.
England have now reached the knockout phase in each of their six FIFA Women’s World Cup participations and their 6-1 victory against China PR last time out equalled their biggest win in a FIFA Women’s World Cup match which they had previously achieved against Argentina in 2007.
Nigeria progressed from a tough group containing Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland and became the first African team to complete a group stage campaign in the FIFA Women’s World Cup without losing a match. They are making successive appearances in the knockout phase for the first time and are the first African nation to make it to the knockouts on three occasions.
ENGLAND V NIGERIA: HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 10 June 1995; England 3-2 Nigeria, Women’s World Cup
- 23 July 2002; England 0-1 Nigeria, friendly, Norwich Stadium,(England)
- 22April 2004, England 0-3 Nigeria, friendly, Madejski Stadium, Reading (England)
Key facts
- England have won nine of their last 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (Won 9, Lost 2).
- England have scored in 16 successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, breaking the record for most consecutive matches with a goal, which was set by Norway who scored in 15 matches in a row between 1991 and 1999.
- Lucy Bronze is set to make her 17th FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, moving her joint-second on England’s all-time list alongside Karen Carney, only Jill Scott (21) has played more matches.
- England have scored during the first half in each of their last eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
- Nigeria’s only previous win in 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European opposition was a 2 0 victory against Denmark in 1999.
- Nigeria are facing European opposition in the round of 16 for the second time in a row having lost 3-0 to Germany at this stage of the competition in 2019.
- Nigeria are aiming to win a FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout phase tie for the first time.
ENGLAND TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play29, Win 18. Draw 4, Lost 7, Goals For 51, Goals Against: 31, Goal Difference: 20
- Biggest win: 6-1England v. Argentina (17/09/2007), 6-1 England v. China PR (01/08/2023)
- Biggest defeat: 0-3 England v. Germany (13/06/1995), 0-3 England v. USA (22/09/2007)
- Highest scoring match: 7 goals – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007), England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 6 – England 6-1 Argentina (17/09/2007)/England 6-1 China PR (01/08/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 3 – Germany 3-0 England (13/06/1995)/USA 3-0 England (22/09/2007)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 13 – 2019 (7 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 6 – 1995 (4 matches) and 2011 (4 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 9 – 1995 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – 2011 (4 matches)
ENGLAND’S FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2019)
- Successive draws: 2 (2007)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 6 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (1995-2007)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 16 (2015-present)
- Successive matches without scoring: 1 (five times)
- Successive clean sheets: 4 (2019)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 09/07/2011 England 1-1 France (3-4 PSO) (quarter-finals)
- 04/07/2015 England 1-0 Germany (match for third place)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS (W0 L1)
- 09/07/2011 England 3-4 France (quarter-finals)
NIGERIA TEAM FACTS
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
- Overall record: Play: 29,Won: 5, Draw: 5, Lost: 19, Goals For: 23, Goals Against: 65, Goal Difference: -42
- Biggest win: Nigeria 2-0Denmark (27/06/1999), Nigeria 2-0 Korea Republic (12/06/2019)
- Biggest defeat: Nigeria 0-8Norway (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)/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) and 2023 (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: 3 (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 (five times, the last of which was 2023-present)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP EXTRA-TIME MATCHES
- 01/07/1999 Nigeria 3-4 Brazil (quarter-finals)
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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