The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup officially kick started with New Zealand’s win over Norway. But Africa’s number one team, Nigeria’s Super falcons, the tournament officially begins Friday morning against Canada.
The team has been on a low-key preparation for the tournament not playing big games friendlies like other countries have and outside that the continuous brouhaha that has been going on between the Super Falcons’ head coach Randy Waldrum and the countries football association, The NFF has caused the distractions in the build up to the mundial.
However, the team’s captain, Onome Ebi had come out to debunk any sort of reports that talks about them being distracted or planning to boycott their games in solidarity with their head coach.
With the matchday knocking already, all of the above needs to be swept aside as Nigerian football lovers are keeping their hopes that the present squad can replicate or surpass the performance of the team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup – a quarter finals finish.
Although, a few fans have claimed that they expect nothing from the team after seeing their performance at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where for the first time in years, Nigeria did not only lose the title but finished fourth position.
But at the biggest stage of the women’s’ football, the ladies will want to show the world why they are Africa’s number one and why they have never missed the FIFA Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991.
So let’s touch on the numbers ahead of the game against Canada.
4 – The total amount of times the Super Falcons have faced the Canadians. the first time was in 1995 which ended in a 3-3 draw and the second in 2011, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Super Falcons.
The other 2 games were in 2022. A two way friendly match with the first ending in a 2-0 defeat for the Nigerians and the second ended inn a 2 all draw.
This means that in 4 matches between both sides, there has been a win each and two draws. This should give the Falcons some confidence going into the game on Friday.
2 – The average number of goals scored in this games has been 2 goals. Only on one occasion did the game finish with a goal. As a result, this is a sort of game that you expect at least two goals in it.
7 – They say 7 is the number of perfection but it is also the number of world ranking for the Canadian Women national team and they are number two in their region behind the United States.
9 – The amount of appearances the Super Falcons have made at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The number is the highest by any African country.
40 – The number of world ranking for the Super Falcons. The team however is Africa’s number 1 ranked team.
Nigeria’s Predicted Line-up
It is no news that Chiamaka Nnadozie is the number 1 goalkeeper. But this is our prediction for the lineup from Randy Waldrum.
Nnadoze, Alozie, Ohale, Plumptree, Rofiat, Ayinla, Payne, Ajibade, Oshoala, Onumonu, Ordega.
Prediction
With the head to head, it does look like a close call but we will give the Super Falcons an edge in this one. The Africans for the win.
