Oshoala training on Saturday ahead of Super Falcons last group match. |
First Vice President of
Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu has declared that the
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is proud of the Super Falcons’ outing so far
at the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, while expressing confidence that the
team will get to the latter stages of the tournament.
After two matches at the
global showpiece in Down Under, the Falcons have earned four points, with a
draw against Canada and defeat of co-host nation Australia, in itself a record
for Nigeria’s participation at the championship that began in 1991.
“I am aware that our country
has been in the quarter-finals of the World Cup previously in 1999, but I also
know the four points we have now is the best harvest we have made after just
two matches. That is gladdening, even as we encourage the girls to keep their
eyes on the ball and do the business against the Republic of Ireland.
“So much is possible if the
team stays focused and ambitious, which is what they have shown in their first
two matches,” said Anyansi-Agwu, who is the leader of Nigeria’s delegation
here.
Nigeria is one of only seven
countries to have played in every single edition of the FIFAWomen’s World Cup
since it started in 1991, but the Falcons’ best harvests previously after two
matches have been their three points at the 2019 finals in France. In 1999,
when they defeated North Korea after losing to the USA, two points were still
awarded for a win in the game.
The Falcons take on the
Republic of Ireland’s ‘Girls in Green’ on Monday night in Brisbane, needing a
point from the encounter to be sure of a place in the knockout rounds.
Fabulous Falcons march
majestically on six-match unbeaten streak
Ahead of their clash with
home girls, Matildas of co-host nation Australia on Thursday, team captain
Onome Ebi had told thenff.com that a five-match unbeaten streak and winning
mentality would be one of the key factors to stand the girls from Nigeria in good
stead.
Come the day, the Super
Falcons dazzled and eventually edged their opponents 3-2 at the Lang Park, to
put a firm foot in the knockout rounds.
Now, the only African team
to have played in all previous editions of the competition is on a six-match
unbeaten streak, going back to their 1-0 defeat of Costa Rica in the Revelation
Cup Tournament in Mexico five months ago.
After defeating the Costa
Ricans, the nine-time African champions edged Haiti 2-1 in a friendly in
Antalya, Turkey in April, and a few days later, spanked World Cup co-hosts New
Zealand 3-0 also in Antalya.
In the course of their final
training camp in Gold Coast, just before the World Cup, the Falcons whipped
Lions FC 8-1.
At the World Cup, Nigeria
drew 0-0 with Canada in Melbourne and defeated Australia 3-2 in Brisbane.
Phot credit: NFF
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