-Ikenna Okafor
As the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand, the Super Falcons of Nigeria are determined to turn their fortunes around in a challenging Group B.
This group, often referred to as the “group of death,” comprises Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. Despite its daunting nickname, none of the teams within the group rank among the top six nations according to FIFA. This creates an excellent opportunity for Nigeria, a nine-time African champion, to showcase their abilities against formidable opponents.
Leading the charge for the Super Falcons is Asisat Oshoala, the five-time African Women’s Footballer from FC Barcelona Women’s team. Oshoala’s blistering pace and football acumen are expected to propel her team to new heights during the tournament. Additionally, the talents of Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid, Toni Payne of Sevilla, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC add further depth to the squad.
The Super Falcons will begin their campaign against Olympic champions Canada in a highly anticipated clash at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday. Canada, having clinched back-to-back bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, followed by a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, is considered the favourite to win the group. The team’s confidence is bolstered by the presence of 40-year-old striker Christine Sinclair, who boasts an impressive record of 190 international goals and aims to become the first player to score in six World Cups.
In the same group, co-host Australia ranks higher than Nigeria and has been in formidable form, securing recent friendly wins against European powerhouses England and France. With nine victories in their last ten senior international matches, Australia poses a formidable challenge for all their opponents.
The Super Falcons’ opening match against Canada will be crucial, and a positive result could pave the way for their qualification from the group stage. Nigerian fans will be eagerly cheering on their team as they endeavour to make their mark in this prestigious tournament.
