Nigeria’s Super Falcons held Canada to a 0-0 draw in their Group B opener at the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The result means after three meetings, the Super Falcons are still unbeaten against Canada at the women’s World Cup (one win and two draws).
Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was the busiest of the two goalkeepers, saved a penalty early in the second half.
The Falcons had to play the dying minutes of the game with 10 players after Deborah Abiodun was sent off for a dangerous foul.
It was a game that saw Canada dominate throughout the encounter but could not break down the Falcons.
Up next for the Falcons is a tough game against hosts Australia on Thursday July 27.
The Australians got their campaign off to a 1-0 win against debutant Republic of Ireland.
First attempt at goal went to Christine Sinclair in the ninth minute but her curler went just wore off target.
In the 23rd minute Ifeoma Onumonu had the Super Falcons first opportunity but saw her shot parried away for a corner.
Canada went close on 29 minutes but Jordyn Huitema could not direct her header from a cross towards goal.
On 33 minutes Deborah Abiodun tried a shot from just outside the box after the Canadians cleared a corner but her effort went just over the bar.
Also read: Super Falcons Defender Payne Joins PSG On Three-Year Deal
With three minutes left in the first half Chiamaka Nnadozie was called to action as she came out to claim a dangerous cross.
In the 50th minute Nnadozie stopped Sinclair’s penalty after the veteran player was fouled by Francisca Ordega.
The Canadians went close again seven minutes later but Adriana Leon’s clever free-kick missed the target.
Canada continued to surge forward and almost scored but Nnadozie stopped a left-foot strike.
Substitute Uchenna Kanu connected with a cross from Onumonu which the keeper saved from close range but the flag went off for offside.
With five minutes left Tosin Demehin made a timely block to deny a goal bound shot.
In the 98th minute Abiodun was shown a straight card after consultation with VAR for a bad tackle.
By James Agberebi
15 Comments
Congratulations to the players and their coaches!
They got this result, inspite of NFF. The players sowed tremendous endeavor and resilience.
The performance of their goalkeeper underscores the importance of having a quality goalkeeper at international tournaments or in big games.
Digressing a bit, Mr. Augustine Eguavoen has been pilloried ad infinitum, but the truth of the matter is that Nigeria would probably have gone much further at the last Nations Cup in Cameroun and very likely have qualified for the last World Cup if not for some shaky goalkeeping.
Impressive result for Nigeria. This result will propel us to win the next game.
Nigeria falcons need to stop playing long speculative balls and start stringing passes together. The few times they did on the match, Canada looked vulnerable. In fact, Canada was there for the taking but we just left them off the hook
Great results from the girls
We are super proud
Good effort from the SF. They obviously played to instructions. Stayed compact, and defended gallantly.
Hopefully, Abiodun will learn from the red card. The Canada player was going nowhere, there was no need to go studs in like that. It could have led to serious injury. Ordega too with her experience should know better than to be fouling an opponent in the box. The penalty call was spot on.
Kanu could actually have won us the game with that last minute chance. She came close but missed. Apart from that, we struggled to create clear cut chances. Oshoala also had a chance to score after the Canadian goalie came rushing out and missed the ball.
Yes, the game was there for the taking, but we could have lost it as well. So a point is not a bad result in my opinion.
On to the next one!
I cannot still believe that Oparanozie didn’t play even a minute but Onumonu played the whole time, kudos to the girls, a good performance worth praising.
I pray we get a victory in our next match.
How could someone who had been ruled out due to accumulated cautions be allowed to play.
Onumonu this, Onumonu that…she was bar far the only bright spot we had in attack today. As a matter of fact she drew the only save of this came from open play.
You guys to hands off this girl for once.
Her footballing technique and intelligence is far ahead most of those we parade in attack and she showed it at the world stage today.
I didn’t watch the match but the reports I read indicated that Onumonu really stepped up her game. Kudos to her, let her continue to find her rhythm….her shambolic performances at the nations cup and other matches are still fresh on people’s mind, that why you see a lot of jabs at her. I wish the team well
What shambolic performances did she put up at AWCON…?
She opened scoring in the win vs Botswana, assisted the only goal vs Cameroon that qualified us for this world cup and it was her beautiful header against Morroco that rebounded of the post and hit morrocan defender for the only goal we scored in that game.
So what stinking shambolic performance are you talking about…?
Or running around headlessly like a confused she goat make someone a good striker…??
So it’s Onumonu who was the only light in our attack yesterday (abi na today self) that you with your football analysis brain can see that should be replaced by Oparanozie abi? Not that waste of space Oshoala ba? Chaii! Which way Nigeria!! It’s not only senior man disease that’s worrying Nigerians it’s also senior woman disease along with it!
Talk about complete cluelessness!!
Good result.Let us also remember that Abiodun and Demihen just made the step up from the Falconets and in my view they both did very well especially Abiodun who who stepped in for the suspended experienced Halimat ayinde.She is only 19 and she will learn from it.Our game was built on a solid and compact defensive display with quick counters with over the top long balls.It almost got us goals with Oshoala and the fast break by Onunomu.Alozie impressed me, Nnadozie was majestic and ooz the confidence that drove the team forward.Our Oyibo was once again played out of position and you can see how she lose the ball while trying to turn it over to her right foot.The team is evolving, After the world cup if the coach stays fine(saw his bag by his side on the bench!) otherwise, the NFF should get a very good foriegn female coach like Vera Pauw, even Waldrum female assistant for continuity.Then of course, some players from the falconers and flamingos should be promoted to this team .Some to beef of the team and some to understudy.From falconers come in players like Mercy Idoko, Sebatien and Oyenidizie.Then that girl that played number 9 for Flamingos at the last world cup should be brought in as an understudy to Oshoala.The same Nnadozie that saved us today was almost dropped by the self destructive NFF!
For those saying the red card was justified because studs were shown abi?
I ask you then what about the reckless tackle on Oshoala in the first half were even more studs were shown – A very very dangerous tackle without a shadow of a doubt, and what did the referee do? Not even a card , not yellow not red but a talking to????
Where is the balance in those two decisions?? I am not happy to see people be so quick to accept “our” faults but refuse to see the crimes against us – Haba do we not have enough enemies as it is????
Sorry not Were but Where…
In that particular dangerous and reckless tackle on Oshoala, all the studs under both feet were shown…go and watch it again if you are in doubt!
Mtcheew!
WHERE IS DESIRE OPARANOZIE? HER WAS NOT ON THE TEAM LIST AGAINST CANADA.
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