WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
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 group stage 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
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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