WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Redemption or destruction: Zambia’s fate hang in the balance in Women’s World Cup clash with Spain
At 8.30am Nigerian time on Wednesday, Zambia will clash with Spain in an encounter that may decide their fate in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Spain and Zambia experienced contrasting fortunes in their opening matches of Group C as the European side produced their biggest-ever victory in the competition’s history with the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica. Zambia on the other hand, suffered a 0-5 loss to Japan.
Last week’s three-goal victory will give Spain a huge confidence boost as they come into their second match knowing another victory in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau will put them in pole position to reach the round of 16.
In their debut match in the competition, Zambia held Japan at bay for the majority of the first half but a goal just before half-time dented their morale and four second-half goals saw them suffer defeat in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match.
They have played a number of friendlies against European opposition in the build-up to this tournament, including an excellent 3-2 win over Germany, and they will be looking to bounce back in positive fashion here.
Here are statistics ahead of the clash.
- Head-to-Head: Both are meeting for the first time ever.
Key facts
- Spain have kept a clean sheet in their last two FIFA Women’s World Cup group matches.
- With her goal against Costa Rica, Esther González became the oldest goalscorer for Spain in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the age of 30 years and 225 days, claiming the record from Jennifer Hermoso (29 years and 46 days when she played against the USA in 2019).
- In Spain’s opening match, Salma Paralluelo became the youngest ever player to represent the nation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at 19 years and 250 days.
- Irene Paredes and Alexia Putellas are the only players to have featured in all of Spain’s previous eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (3-2015, 4-2019, 1-2023).
- Two of Zambia’s squad are attached to Spanish clubs: Hellen Mubanga (Zaragoza CFF) and Racheal Kundananji (Madrid CFF).
SPAIN TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play8, Win 2, Draw 2, Lost 4, Goals For 9, Goals Against 8, Goal Difference: 1
- Biggest win: Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (21/07/2023)
- Biggest defeat: Spain 0-1Brazil (13/06/2015); Spain 1-2 Korea Republic (17/06/2015), Spain 0-1 Germany (12/06/2019) and Spain 2-1 USA (24/06/2019)
- Highest scoring match: 4 goals – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019)
- Most goals scored in a match: 3 – Spain 3-1 South Africa (08/06/2019), Spain 3-0 Costa Rica (21/07/2023)
- Most goals conceded in a match: 2 – Korea Republic 2-1 Spain (17/06/2015), Spain 1-2 USA (24/06/2019)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2019 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2 – 2015 (3 matches)
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 4 – 2015 (3 matches)/2019 (4 matches)
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STREAKS
- Successive wins: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
- Successive defeats: 2 (2015)
- Successive draws: 1 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches without a defeat: 1 (four times, most recently 2023-present)
- Successive matches without a win: 3 (2015 and 2019)
- Successive matches with a goal scored: 2 (2015-2019)
- Successive matches without scoring: 2 (2019)
- Successive clean sheets: 1 (2019 and 2023-present)
ZAMBIA TEAM FACTS
- Overall record: Play1, Win 0, Draw 0, Lost 1, Goals For: 0, Goal Against: 5, Goal Difference: -5
- Biggest win: Nil
- Biggest defeat: Zambia 0-5Japan (22/07/2023)
- Highest scoring match:5 goals – Zambia 0-5 Japan (22/07/2023)
- Most goals scored in a match: 0
- Most goals conceded in a match: 5 – Zambia 0-5 Japan (22/07/2023)
- Most goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0
- Fewest goals scored at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 0
- Most goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 5 (2023 – 1 match)
- Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA Women’s World Cup: 5 (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
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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