Randy Waldrum and his team are in dispute over their federation for payment and management only days before the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. There have been reports about Nigeria planning to boycott their opening game. They now wish their off-field issues do not derail their footballing plans in Australia and New Zealand. Nigeria are also not helped by a tough group that will not help them settle into the tournament at any moment.
History
The Super Falcons have been in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since it was first played in 1991. Their journey has ended in the group stages in most editions with their highest finish coming in 1999 when they reached the quarterfinals. In the last competition, Nigeria reached the knockouts for the first time since then, losing 3-0 to Germany in the last-16 stage. They managed only one victory at France defeating South Korea in the group stages but getting beaten by the hosts and Canada albeit with a 1-0 result. Rita Nwadike, who scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal at this stage, is the joint top scorer for her nation in this competition with three. Nicknamed "The Headmistress’’, Nkiru Okosieme is the other player who scored all her goals in a single edition back in 1999.
Qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Nigeria's path to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 was sealed after they ended among the best top four sides in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations last year. They lost the third-place fight to Zambia having reached the semifinals and only lost narrowly on penalties to Morocco. Teenage sensation Rasheedat Ajibade ended as one of the top-scorer with three goals in the competition.
Preparation for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Pre-World Cup friendlies for Nigeria have featured both top and lower-ranked opponents at the Women’s World Cup. While there have been losses last year in each game against the USA and Japan, the last two matches against Nigeria and New Zealand have been positive. However, their period in the 2023 Women's Revelations Cup was not fruitful. Losing to Mexico and Colombia in back-to-back matches before the win against Costa Rica in the final match in the competition.
Nigeria Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC), Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigücü Spor), Yewande Balogun (Saint-Étienne)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels), Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alavés), Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas), Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City), Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims), Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash), Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims)
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengård), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid), Toni Payne (Sevilla), Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Deboran Abiodun (Rivers Angels), Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University)
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville), Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife), Ifeoma Onumonu (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona), Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Jianghan), Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow), Esther Okoronkwo (Saint-Étienne)
Head Coach: Randy Waldrum
Strength
Nigeria is quite a solid outfit as they usually do not concede many goals and pose a constant threat with their attack. Under the captaincy of Onome Ebi, who is taking part in her sixth Women’s World Cup and now being the oldest-ever African to play the tournament at the age of 40, the defence looks strong. Oshoala's presence is enough to make the forward line threatening but she will be helped by the cunningness of Okoronkwo and the upcoming star Rasheedat Ajibade. Both will terrorize the flanks for their side.
Weakness
The off-field matters are making a lot of noise and it will be almost impossible for the Super Falcons to not let it cross their mind during games. It has taken a lot of emotional and mental toll on players. Even before the World Cup started, the situation put unwanted pressure on the team. Whether players will take this motivation to stress their federation more to meet their demands will only be known when they take to the pitch.
Key Player: Asisat Oshoala
An elite goal-scorer for the squad, Asisat Oshoala will be traveling to the Women’s World Cup after another season of trophies with her club Barcelona. The 28-year-old had a significant contribution to the treble win with a sensational 21 goals in 28 matches in Liga F and five goals in six goals in the Women’s Champions League. Combination of pace and power, Oshoala proved to be a headache for defences in the previous two editions and is hungry to score more to become the first African player to score in three World Cups. Winner of African Women's Footballer of the Year a record five times, Oshoala will be Nigeria’s hope to perform well in the finals.
How will Nigeria Lineup at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023?
Nigeria FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Groups & Fixtures
Group B
Australia
Canada
Nigeria
Ireland
Fixtures
Friday, 21 July 2023
Nigeria vs Canada - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne (8:00)
Thursday, 27 July 2023
Australia vs Nigeria - Brisbane Football Stadium, Brisbane (15:30)
Monday, 31 July 2023
Ireland vs Nigeria - Brisbane Football Stadium, Brisbane (15:30)
Note: All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
Prediction
Facing co-hosts Australia and Olympic medalists Canada or even a spirited Ireland side in the same group will be too much for Nigeria at a moment of struggle due to off-field problems. The fact they will take on Canada in the opener, the match in talk of boycotting but later denied by captain Ebi, piles up the pressure as it will be a direct fight for the second spot provided that Australia wins the group. The co-hosts will be their next opponents and by the time Ireland rolls in it might be too late. Hence, the chances of going to the knockout are very slim for the side.
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