The ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to take Centre stage on Thursday, 20 July 2023. Australia and New Zealand have the hosting rights to this prestigious tournament where Nigeria will be in search of a Maiden World Cup Title.

The Super Falcons have performed brilliantly on the continent but not so much on the World Stage. They have not reached the heights attained in the third edition of the World Cup in 1999 where they got to the Quarter-finals.

Nigeria on the global stage has simply been underwhelming. The 2023 World Cup is a chance to break the yoke. The Coach of the side Randy Waldrum and the players are beaming with positivity despite setbacks, coupled with the depth and dynamics in the squad and the mix of experience and youth.

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Asisat Oshoala needs two Goals to Surpass Nkiru Okosieme and Rita Nwadike as the top goal scorer for the Super Falcons in the WWC.

Rita Nwadike & Nkiru Okosieme are tied for three goals. Adaku Okoroafor, Mercy Adike and Asisat Oshoala, all have two goals.

Patience Avre, Prisca Emeafu, Nkechi Egbe, Cynthia Uwak, Perpetua Nkwocha, Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega have one each.

Watch Rita Nwadike’s 26th-minute goal in the 1995 six-goal thriller here https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/watch/SW9rWm8Yk0m-YvhLNeB9iA

Nigeria’s first match will be against Canada on July 21 before an encounter against co-hosts Australia on July 27 and will wrap up their group stage matches against debutants, Ireland on July 31.

Here’s a look at the form of Nigeria’s Group-Stage Opponents

As mentioned above, Nigeria will take on Canada as its first opponent, a country they have never lost to on the World Cup stage, getting a win and sharing the spoils once.

Nigeria first played Canada in 1995, it ended 3-3 and both sides reunited in the 2011 World Cup with Nigeria getting the maximum points winning 1-0.

In Canada’s Last five Games, they were subjected to four Losses and a Win.

Canada’s Christine Sinclair is the joint oldest player at the WWC alongside Super Falcons Veteran, Onome Ebi and Vanina Correa (40 yrs).

Australia (Co-Hosts)

Australia racked up four wins and lost once in their last five games. Nigeria has never won against Australia in a competitive game.

They have won 9 of their last 10 games heading to WWC. The Matildas are one of the most in-form sides of the tournament.

Ireland

In Ireland’s Last 5 Games, they have lost thrice, draw once and gotten a win.

It would be their first appearance at the Women’s World Cup and the 2023 tournament will be their first competitive meeting with Nigeria.

Here is the Full Super Falcons Squad List:

Francisca Ordega, Assiat Oshoala, Ashleigh Plumptre, Onome Ebi, Desire Oparanozie, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Christy Ucheibe and Gift Monday.

Halimatu Ayinde, Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie Tochukwu Oluehi, Yetunde Balogun, Deborah Abiodun, Rofiat Imuran, Osinachi Ohale, Ijeoma Okoronkwo and Tosin Demehin.

A Look at Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Standout Super Falcons Goalkeeper

The Super Falcons goal post is in safe hands with the 22-year-old Chiamaka Nnadozie most likely to be in between the sticks. She is a solid all-round goalkeeper, with a commanding presence and the ability to start build-up play with her ball distribution.

At 19, Nnadozie became the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup in a 2–0 victory over Korea at the 2019 WC in France.

Nnadozie kept her fire burning as she made three saves in the penalty shootout against Cameroon helping the Falconets to a Gold medal at the African Games in Morocco.

After a successful campaign at Rivers United where she played from 2016 to 2018, securing victory for the club in the Nigerian Women’s Championship of 2016 and the Nigerian Women’s Cup in 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as winning the NWPL in the 2019/20 season.

The 22-year-old joined the French outfit, Paris FC on 22nd of January 2020 and kept an impressive 13 clean sheets in 21 games last season thrusting her club to a third-place finish in the Feminine Division behind highfliers Olympique Lyonnais and PSG.

Super Falcons Debutants

Michelle Alozie

Michelle Alozie plays as a forward for the National Women’s Soccer League team, Houston Dash.

Alozie made her senior debut for Nigeria on 10 June 2021 as a 65th-minute substitution in a 0–1 friendly loss to Jamaica.

On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. She is promising and is expected to bolster the attack.

Gift Monday

Gift currently plays as a forward for club side, UD Tenerife. She is one hot prospect going into the World Cup and is known for her dribbling abilities and power on the ball, as well as her prolific nature in front of goal.

The 21-year-old got the call-up to play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup On 16 June 2023. Prior to her call-up, Gift competed at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France and captained the team to its first gold medal in 12 years at the African Games.

She played for FC Robo in the Nigerian Women’s football league from 2018–2021 scoring 13 goals before shifting tents to Bayelsa Queens in 2021 for a one-year stint, winning the NWFL Premiership Player of the Season.

Esther Okoronkwo

Esther Okoronkwo is a forward who also plays for UD Tenerife. Okoronkwo made her senior debut for Nigeria on 10 June 2021 as a 43rd-minute substitution in a 0–1 friendly loss to Jamaica and got a call-up to be in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on the 16th of June.

The 26 years old scored her first goal in Nigerian colours on 23 February 2022 against Ivory Coast, a goal which saw Nigeria get a 1-0 away win and cemented the side’s qualification for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Glory Ogbonna

The 25-year-old Defender currently plays for the Turkish club Beşiktaş JK and is a real asset to the Nigerian National Team. She is a versatile player who can use both feet. Originally a left-back, Gift can also play as a right-back, a left-centre back, a right-centre back and a defensive midfielder.

Glory represented Nigeria at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016. She made her debut for the senior team in the 2018 WAFU Women’s Cup, her performance in the competition saw, then Coach, Thomas Dennerby give her accolades and she was subsequently invited for the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers, and thereafter making the squad to the main tournament.

On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Ashleigh Plumptre

Ashleigh Plumptre is currently a free agent following the expiration of her contract for Leicester City in the English Women’s Super League where she played as a centre-back, winning the Championship title in 2021.

She made her official debut on 18 February 2022, for Nigeria at the Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification, starting in a 2–0 win over Ivory Coast. On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigeria squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Despite representing England at the Youth level, Ashleigh switched allegiance to Nigeria, which she revealed was a result of wanting to play for something more than just herself and to know more about her heritage.

She further stated that she loves how Nigerians feel about football (the Nigerian spirit), and it’s one of the things she loves most about playing for Nigeria.

“I feel protected on the team, I feel like we all really lift each other up and want the best for one another, and for me, that’s great, and I am excited to see what will happen in the future.”

Oluwatosin Demehin

Oluwatosin Demehin is a defender of Stade de Reims Féminines, she is a force to be reckoned with and can halt the opposition’s attack.

The 21-year-old represented Nigeria at the U20 WC and has been promoted to the National, set to make her debut when the tournament begins on Thursday, 20 July 2023.

Ifeoma Onumonu

The 29-year-old forward plays for Nj/Ny Gotham Fc in the NWSL. She received her first call-up to the Nigeria Women’s National Team in June 2021 and was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in June.

Toni Payne

Toni Payne plays for Spanish Liga F club, Sevilla FC and will serve as a Midfielder in the Nigerian National Team.

She played for the United States at the Youth level winning the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship but in 2019, decided to represent Nigeria.

She made her senior debut on 18 February 2021 starting against Russian club CSKA Moscow at the Turkish Women’s Cup and was called up to play in the 2023 Women’s World Cup on 16 June.