THE Super Falcons of Nigeria will be aiming to avenge a 28-year-old defeat when they face England in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Monday.
In the one and only previous Women’s World Cup encounter between the two teams, England edged out Nigeria 3-2 in a group clash at the second edition of the global showpiece in Sweden in 1995.
That defeat, coupled with the 8-0 trashing by Norway and 3-3 draw with Canada earlier in the competition, ensured that the then African champions were eliminated at the group stage.
Nigeria have not had the opportunity to play against their colonisers again at the World Cup until now, and they are plotting to get even and make history in the process.
If they overcome England on Monday, it will be the first time the Super Falcons have won a knockout game at the Women’s World Cup.
The nine-time African champions lost at the first attempt the two previous times they reached the knockout rounds.
In 1999 in the United States of America, it was straight to the quarter-finals from the group phase and the Falcons lost the thrilling contest 4-3 to Brazil via the now scrapped golden goal.
At the last Women’s World Cup, the Super Falcons reached the round of 16 only to be swatted aside 3-0 by Germany in France.
Although England eased their way to the round of 16 with three straight victories in the group phase, including a 6-1 trouncing of one-time heavyweights China, the Super Falcons will still fancy their chances.
Having gone through the ‘group of death’ undefeated — draws against Olympic champions Canada and newcomers Republic of Ireland as well as a huge win over co-hosts Australia — the Super Falcons are confident they can take on any team in the tournament.
Although the Falcons have met England twice since the 1995 defeat, the games were mere friendlies and did not hold nearly as much importance as this World Cup clash.
Nigeria beat England 1-0 in a friendly in Norwich in July 2002 and then spanked the Lionesses 3-0 in another friendly in Reading in April 2004, but the Falcons want to do it on the global stage of the World Cup.
“The World Cup is the biggest stage and we just have to do it here,” assistant coach Ann Chiejine, who was in goal during the defeat in Karlstad, Sweden in 1995, told thenff.com.
Attacking midfielder Toni Payne, said: “Anything can happen. We just have to go onto the pitch and do our best. We want to win and reach the next stage.”
The battleground is at Lang Park in Brisbane on Monday from 8.30am Nigerian time.
In other round of 16 ties involving African teams, it is also the colonisers against the colonised as South Africa battle the Netherlands on Sunday while Morocco confront France on Tuesday.
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