European champions Three Lionesses of England and nine-time Africans champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons will clash in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
This is the second time England and the Falcons will come face to face in the senior women’s World Cup.
To get to the knockout stage, the Randy Waldrum-led side finished second in Group B behind Australia and ahead of Olympic champions Canada and debutant Republic of Ireland.
After holding Canada to a goalless draw, the Super Falcons shocked Australia 3-2 before settling for another goalless draw with Ireland.
For England, it was three wins out of three in Group D which had 1999 World Cup runners-up China, Denmark and Haiti.
Ahead of Monday’s fixture, Completesports.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI takes a look at how the Super Falcons have fared in their previous three meetings with England.
The Super Falcons first meeting with England was in the group stage of the 1995 edition of the FIFA women’s World Cup in Sweden.
While it was a second appearance for the Super Falcons at the 1995 World Cup (they made their debut at the first tournament in 1991 in China) it was a debut outing for the English women’s team.
Also read: 2023 WWC: Approach England Game With A Winning Mentality –Babangida Tells Super Falcons
It was the final group game for both teams with England winning 3-2, thanks to a brace from Karen Farley and a goal from Karen Walker.
Adaku Okoroafor and Rita Nwadike were the scorers for the Nigerians.
After the group game tie in 1995 England hosted the Super Falcons in an international friendly game on 23 July 2002 at Carrow Road, Norwich City FC.
The Super Falcons avenged their loss in 1995 as they emerged 1-0 winners thanks to skipper Florence Omagbemi’s strike.
On 22 April 2004 England hosted the Nigerian women’s team in another international friendly game which took place inside the Madejski Stadium, Reading FC.
In front of over 4000 fans the Super Falcons thrashed England 3-0 with Perpetual Nkwocha bagging a brace while Nwadike also got on the score sheet.
Meanwhile, the winner between Nigeria and England will take on Jamaica or Colombia in the quarter-finals.
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COMMENTS
The 2 games that I’m keenly looking forward to now are:
1) Nigeria vs England for obvious reasons.
2) Then there is Jamaica vs Colombia.
Tough game coming up for the SF. Waldrum needs to be spot on with his tactics, and we need to take the chances that come our way. Whatever happens, I think we can all be proud of what this team has accomplished.
Talking about Jamaica, looks like this might be the “official” beginning of the Jamaican football revolution. I always thought they had it in them. The typical Jamaican athlete is big, strong and fast, which is why they’ve dominated world sprinting for decades. These are qualities that serve you well in football. And there are already top players of Jamaican origin playing in the English premier league and championship. Names like Raheem Sterling, Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey and Ethan Pinnock come to mind. Most of these are English born and bred, so their allegiance is to England. The challenge is to get more of them to switch to Jamaica. If that happens, watch out!
The Jamaican male players are watching the exploits of their women at the world cup, and they’re asking themselves “We can do this too. Can’t we?”
Additionally, youngsters around Jamaica are no longer just interested in sprinting, netball, and other Jamaican sports. They are now looking to try football.
Whether Jamaica progress or not in this competition, the impact of what their women have accomplished so far is likely to propel Jamaican football to greater heights.
Looks like a sleeping giant is finally awakening. It won’t surprise me if Jamaica becomes a football powerhouse within the next decade.
Good talk @Pompeii, Jamaica already have Leon Baily, Antonio , Bobby Reid and Recently capped Damarai Gray of Everton,
They are already shocking some big names in CONCACAF tournaments.
GOOD LUCK GUYS on MONDAY
But PLEASE REMEMBER..
LAUREN JAMES!
I think I will prefer a 3-5-2 formation for this match like @deo suggested in one of his previous posts. England switched to that formation in their last match and scored 6 goals. We need to match them formation for formation. I’m sure Sarina Wiegman will stick to that formation.
Plumptre Demehin and chief of defense staff Ohale as the 3 CBs. Alozie on the righ and bring in Imuran on the left. Rofiat plays as a left sided forward at her club in the French female league. She may be our joker on that left side that lacks speed.
Ucheibe Ayinde and Payne retains the midfield while we play two upfront. An Osoala and Oparanoze combo if both are fully fit will be preferable. However, that may mean Ajibade drops to the bench or Ajibade pairing Osoala up front with options on the bench.
I don’t know if it will be too late, but we played that system against the USA in one of our friendlies and we almost get away with a draw in that encounter until they scored in the closing minutes. We must stay compact and take the game to them. No retreat no surrender. VAMOS ARRIBBA SUPERFALCONS!!! Good luck ladies.
I will not bench Ajibade,she’s our go-to player and no way will Randum bench her.I would suggest Oshoala on the wings.I think she’s explosive when she has space.Having defenders behind her does not give her the space she wants to wreck havoc.
I doubt the gaffer would go for a new formation unless he’s brave because one mistake we are out!Not like the group stages you have chances of redeeming oneself.
You do have a point though and your suggestions are good.
Let’s wait and see what plans the coach has for the game,I trust his judgement and I also want to believe he has a good technical team.
Hopefully we win tomorrow.The Nigerian people are going through very difficult times!A win will help put smiles in millions of faces!
Good luck super falcons!!
You’re right I won’t bench Ajibade. Let’s hope the coach get the tactics right tomorrow. It will be an exciting game irrespective of the result. All odds are stacked against us, but we know we will have our moments. Utilizing them be the deciding factor.
My fear is falcons penchant to seat back and absorb pressure hoping for some unearned counter attack, a good attacking team like England would eventually wear down the defense if we just seat back without offering any attack of our own. We must chase every 50/50 ball and do not give them any free pass. If England is to win they must earn it on their own with help from us. As usual the referees and VAR would definitely pay a bias role.
We don’t press high up the pitch thereby giving our opponents so much time and room to boss possession.Another reasons we get bossed is,we tend to give away possession!We can’t string decent successful passes,makes us vulnerable and always chasing our opponents.
If we could correct this problems we would be a force in female football at global stages.
Nigeria will crash out tomorrow. The ladies are trying their best but some departments are weak.
@ U will eat ur words come 2moro. Cos its Nigeria 4, England 3. England don’t have what it takes to beat SF
Please can I get the site to watch the match
Wetin this IFEOMA ONUMONU give this awa AMERICANA chop oooo
Even when DESIRE OPARANOZIE is fit?
If he doesn’t trust ASISAT agba baller OSHOALA to start, why ONUMONU who has not covered herself in glory in all the matches she’s played so far?
Anyways, GOODLUCK SF….fly HIGH❤️
You dey watch back of Tv or simply put, you no sabi watch ball. If say u sabi watch ball you for know wetin she dey bring.