…Australia is next for Falcons on 27th July.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons danced into the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia singing “Wa ma sin wa lo, wa ma sin wa lo; Oluwa wa ma sin wa lo” (meaning go with us God) and got a barren draw against favorites Canada in their first Group B match on Friday morning Nigerian time.
Co- oldest player of the tournament Canadian captain Sinclair got a penalty after VAR review of VAR head, Van Boekel of Poland but Nigeria’s agile goal tender, Cecilia Nnadozie parried it into safety denying the veteran of a record to be the oldest player at 40 years (just 3 months less than Onome Ebi of Nigeria) to have scored at the women’s world cup final.
Francisca Ortega had stamped on Sinclair’s feet and Ref Lina Lehtovaara of Finland had initially neglected it. Ortega was eventually pulled out of the game. Devoted winger, Rasheedat Ajibade was not fielded because she had a one match ban carry over from the women AFCON and fit to do battle against Australia.
Cover Photo: Cecilia parried the penalty. She was woman of the match.
Nigerian players came into the game sluggishly probably having too much respect for the Canadians who did not field Simisola Feyishayo Awujo a midfield player born to Nigerian parents while in the USA who could have made a great change because of her fighting spirit.
Sinclair is 40 years and three years older than her coach, British Beverly Priestman. Sinclair is Canada’a highest goal scorer with 198 goals compared with Perpepetua Nkwocha’s 80 goals.
Deborah Abiodun emerged the first bad lady of the tournament with a straight red card approved by VAR in the 98th minute in the match of which an awesome 10 minutes extra time was awarded by Ref Linda who has handled 73 matches and flashed 296 yellow cards.
Nigeria by stats were lucky to have escaped a drubbing having11 shots at goal with only one accurate against 16 at goal from Canada and 3 accurate; Canada dominated ball possession with 68-32% stringing 450-213 passes.
Nigeria was terribly rough making 16-6 foul calls; but Canada had 2-1 yellow card s until Deborah saw red. The corner kicks count were close 7-6 in favor of Canada.
On Thursday, Co-hosts, Australia had beaten Ireland 1-0 in the group B opener. Australia is leading Group B with 3 points; Nigeria and Canada has one point each while Ireland is yet to get a point via a draw or a win.
Nigeria’s Super Falcon is the most successful African women’s team winning Women AFCON 11 times and the first African team to have reached both the FIFA Women World Cup and football Summer Olympics Quarters.
Nigeria in her first International match played 16th February 1991 thrashed Black Queens of Ghana 5-1earning her biggest win in Ivory Coast on 11th May 2019 whipping Niger Republic women 15-0. But three different countries spanked Nigeria 8-0 each in her highest defeat; Norway at Sweden on 6th June 1995; Germany at Leverkusen on 25th December 2010 and Germany again at La Manso on 6th April 2018.
Nigeria has appeared at the final tournament of the female world cup 9 times but her highest achievement was at USA 99 where she placed 7th in the world having lost at the quarter finals 3-4 to Brazil. She had made the round of 16, another knock-out stage at France 2019 where Germany knocked her out 3-0 on 22nd June of that year.
Nigeria and Canada met four times. The only victory of Nigeria was on 5th July 2011; she lost to Canada 2-1 on 8th April 2019 and on her preparation for the present world cup, Nigeria went to Canada and lost 0-2 but upgraded in the second encounter scoring 2-2 draw there in Canada still.
Canada had made 7 appearances at the world cup finals after missing the first party in 1991. She lost the Bronze to hosts USA in 2003 1-3 at Carson before a crowd of 25,253 after losing in the semifinal to Sweden 1-2 at Portland. Canada earned a slim 1-0 victory over China in the quarters but Germany lifted the trophy that year in a 2-1 win over Sweden.
Canada hosted in 2015 had got to the quarterfinal losing the 4th quarterfinal to England before a crowd of 54,027 fans on 27th June after humbling Switzerland 1-0 in the Round of 16 on 21st June.
Co-hosts, Australia will play Nigeria in their 2nd match on 27th July same day Ireland will play Canada in their 2nd match while the 3rd Group matches takes place simultaneously on 31st July with Nigeria versus Ireland at 1100 hours and Canada versus hosts Australia at the same time.
Later today, Philippines will play Switzerland at 0600 hours and Spain will square up against Costa Rica at 0830 hours.
Four matches will be played on Saturday 22nd July. USA will meet Vietnam at 0200 hours in group E encounter at Eden Park; African representative Zambia will square up with Asian giants, Japan at 0800 hours in Group C match at Waikato New Zealand; England will trade tackles with Haiti at 1030 hours in a Group D match at Suncorp Stadium Australia and at 1300 hours, Denmark and China will take to the turf in a group D match at NIB Stadium, Perth Australia.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFAWOMENWORLDCUP2023.
#CAF #NFF
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
