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Tag: Super Falcons

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Super Falcons plot sweet revenge on England

    FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Super Falcons plot sweet revenge on England

    On 10 June 1995, at the Karlstad City Stadium in Sweden, England’s Three Lionesses edged the Super Falcons of Nigeria 3-2 in one of the final group phase matches of the 2nd FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in that country.

    That year, as was the case at the inaugural edition of the competition in China four years earlier, there were only 12 finalists.

    The narrow loss, coupled with the eight-goal trashing by Norway and 3-3 draw with Canada earlier in the competition, saw the African champions exit the competition at group stage.

    On Monday, 7th August 2023, both teams will clash again, this time, at the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Australia and New Zealand (with 32 teams), and at the first knock-out round of the tournament.

    To reach this stage, England defeated Haiti and Denmark 1-0 each, before spanking China (1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists) 6-1 on Tuesday.

    Although the Falcons pipped England 1-0 in a friendly in Norwich (England) on 23 July 2002 and then spanked the Three Lionesses 3-0 in another friendly in Reading (also in England) on 22 April 2004, the Nigerian girls feel they need to turn England back at the biggest stage, which is the World Cup.

    Adaku Okoroafor and Rita Nwadike netted for Nigeria that day in Sweden. In the friendly match in Norwich, rapid winger Patience Avre got the only goal, and in Reading two years later, a Perpetua Nkwocha brace followed a goal by Rita Nwadike as Nigeria pumped the Three Lionesses in front of their own fans.

    “The World Cup is the biggest stage and we just have to do it here,” assistant coach Ann Chiejine, who was in goal that evening in Karlstad, told thenff.com. Chiejine is one of Randy Waldrum’s assistants at the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

    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 stage is set at the Lang Park on Monday evening, from 5.30pm Australia time (8.30am Nigeria) for one of the most anticipated Round of 16 games at this global spectacle Down Under.

    The nine-time African champions are unbeaten in their last six international games, from beating Costa Rica at the Revelation Cup in Mexico in February, to defeating Haiti and New Zealand in a tournament in April in Turkey. At the World Cup, they have drawn with Canada and Republic of Ireland and beaten Australia’s Matildas.

    England have lost one of their last six games – a 0-2 defeat by Australia in April. They drew with Brazil in April, and with Portugal in July, but have won their three matches at the ongoing World Cup.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup:Falcons Coach, Waldrum reveals formula to defeat England

    FIFA Women’s World Cup:Falcons Coach, Waldrum reveals formula to defeat England

    Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has revealed the tactical approach the Super Falcons will use to defeat the three Lionesses of England on Monday in Brisbane.

    Waldrum said that his side will use their athleticism to overcome England in their Round of 16 encounter.

    The nine-time African champions will battle England for a place in the quarter-finals at Lang Park, Brisbane on Monday.

    England defeated Republic of China ladies by 6-1 in their last group game on Thursday.

    The American further said the Super Falcons will capitalise on their speed and power to beat Sarina Wiegman’s side.

    “The one difference between us and China is that they don’t have our speed and our strength,” the American told reporters.

    “China was organised but England was too powerful and played around them.
    “We will have to use our strengths to neutralise England.”

    Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa all made it to the second round with the exception of Zambia the only African side who got eliminated in the group stage.

     

     

  • FIFA to pay Super Falcons through NFF under strict monitoring – Falode

    FIFA to pay Super Falcons through NFF under strict monitoring – Falode

    Nigerian Women’s Football League chairperson, Aisha Falode, has shed more light on FIFA paying Nigeria’s Super Falcons directly.

    Falode cleared the air that world governing body (FIFA) will still run the payment through Nigeria Football Federation.

    Recall that the secretary-general of FIFA, Fatma Samoura following the qualification of Super Falcons to the second round of the Mundial, reportedly said the world’s football governing body would send unpaid allowance to the country’s women’s football team to the players directly.

    FIFA had announced that every player participating in the World Cup group stage will earn $30,000.

    The match bonuses will increase to $60,000 in the second round of the competition.

    By this virtue, each player of the Nigerian team is expected to earn at least $60,000 for reaching the round of 16 in Australia and New Zealand.

    Falode made the clarification on a sports show on Lagos talk 91.3 fm on Wednesday in Lagos.

    She said that the World Cup prize money will be “ring-fenced” to ensure it gets to the players without interference from a third party.

    She noted that Falcons’ prize money from the ongoing World Cup will still be routed through the NFF.

  • 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons to go on two-day break

    2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons to go on two-day break

    Following their 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland and qualification for the Round of 16, the Super Falcons were given two days off by the technical crew, with training sessions to resume on Thursday at the Lions FC Stadium in Brisbane, ahead of the clash with England on Monday, 7 August. Players used the opportunity to stretch their legs and see a few places of interest close to their hotel.

    Nigeria and England have clashed thrice previously at senior women international level, with the Falcons winning two of the three matches.

    Already South Africa and Nigeria have made it through to the second round of the competition for the first time in the tournament’s history.

  • We’ll pay World Cup prize money directly to players because of Super Falcons – FIFA

    We’ll pay World Cup prize money directly to players because of Super Falcons – FIFA

    World football governing body, FIFA, says the prize money for the ongoing 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be paid directly to the players without interference from a third party.

    Fatma Samoura, FIFA secretary-general who made the disclosure in a viral video, noted on Wednesday that the decision is due to the unpaid allowance issues involving the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

    Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, disclosed in the lead-up to the World Cup, that some players are owed “per diem and bonuses” from two years ago.

    Samoura, in the video, acknowledged that “things have been tough” for the Falcons, adding that FIFA will for the first time monitor that match bonuses get to the players directly.

    “I know that things have been tough. We have to face the realities of Nigeria.

    “It pains me a lot. It is because of you [the Super Falcons] that, for the first time, the prize money has been ring-fenced in the history of FIFA to ensure that it goes to you,” Samoura said.

  • FIFA Women’s WC: Super Falcons to Face England in round of 16

    FIFA Women’s WC: Super Falcons to Face England in round of 16

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria round of 16 opponents in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup has emerged.

    The Nigerian senior female football team will slug it out with the Lionesses of England for the quaerter-final ticket on Monday, August 7th.

    The match will take place by 12pm Nigerian time at Lang Park stadium in Brisbane.

    The Three Lionesses booked a date with the Super Falcons after finishing top of Group D.

    It will be the first-ever meeting between both teams at the World Cup level.

    Sarina Wiegman’s side thrashed China 6-1 in their final group game on Tuesday afternoon.

    Lauren James grabbed a brace for England in the encounter.

    Chloe Kelly, Alessia Ruso, Lauren Hemp and Rachel Daly were the other goal scorers for England in the game.

    Denmark finished second in the group after edging out Haiti 2-0.

    Both China with just 3 points and Haiti with 0 point have crashed out of the competition hold in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Samoura praises Falcons for making Nigeria, Africa and women’s football proud

    Samoura praises Falcons for making Nigeria, Africa and women’s football proud

    The Secretary-General of world football-governing body, FIFA, Ms Fatma Samoura on Monday in Brisbane commended the Super Falcons of Nigeria for reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, saying their feat has brought joy to women’s football as a whole with their elegance and self-assuredness on the pitch, as well as African women football and the African girl-child.

    The 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland meant the Falcons finished unbeaten in their Group B, a first-ever for an African team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    “I must say that personally, I am proud of you. As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organization was founded in 1904, and I am also an African. So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football,” Samoura said as she addressed the nine-time African champions at the dressing room after the match at Lang Park.

    In company with Nigeria’s leader of delegation, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President) and NFF Board Members Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, Alhaji Babagana Kalli and Ms Aisha Falode, Samoura said the performance of the Falcons is a terrific inspiration to other African teams at the tournament.

    “You have won one match here, as Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet. I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.

    “You should continue to believe in yourselves and play as a team, and be ready to lift the African flag higher in this tournament.”

    Gelson Fernandes, the Director for Africa at FIFA, himself a former Swiss international player, urged the Super Falcons to retain their self-belief and be ready to confront and surmount every obstacle on their way to the Final.

     

  • W/World Cup: We knew Ireland’s game would be hard – Toni Payne

    W/World Cup: We knew Ireland’s game would be hard – Toni Payne

    Super Falcons forward Toni Payne on Monday said while her team knew that qualification to the Round of 16 would be difficult they however never considered it an impossibility.

    Payne was adjudged the Player-of-the-Match in the team’s final Group B match at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane, Australia on Monday.

    The Falcons, after a 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland, qualified for the competition’s knockout phase for the third time.

    Payne, while reflecting on the result, said: “We are all ecstatic. Our objective going into this game was to get a point. We had enough opportunity to qualify and we did that today.

    “We knew this was always going to be the group of death. We knew it was going to be hard, but we never thought it would be impossible.”

    On her outstanding player-of-the-match performance, she attributed her success to teamwork, adding that her team mates worked for each other during the game.

    “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I am playing with such wonderful and hardworking players and when we work for each other we achieve our goals.

    “If we play like how we have been playing and improve with each game, I think we can go all the way to the final,” Payne said.

    The Super Falcons progressed as Group B runners-up and will now meet the Group D winners in the Round of 16 on Monday, which could either be England or Denmark.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons Coach Waldrum reacts to draw against Ireland

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons Coach Waldrum reacts to draw against Ireland

    Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum on Monday said the team was disappointed not to have won against Ireland in their last group game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    Coach Waldrum, however, praised the Super Falcons for the doggedness to qualify for the Round of 16 of the tournament.

    “You know, I was actually disappointed in the second half because we could have won the match. So, it almost feels disappointing that we didn’t get the result, the three points.

    “But all of us would have taken this result before we started the match just to know we got through,” he said.

    The nine-time African champions will now face Group D winners, in either European champions England or Denmark in the Round of 16.

    “If it’s England, it’s the European champions. We’ve already played the Olympic gold medallists (Canada). We’ve already played the host nation (Australia).

    “So, it’s just going to be another one of those matches that we’ve already been playing in,” Waldrum said.

  • 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Falcons’ ‘Kante’, Deborah Abiodun to return in round of 16

    2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Falcons’ ‘Kante’, Deborah Abiodun to return in round of 16

    Super Falcons’ Deborah Abiodun  nicknamed Ngolo Kante will be available for selection in Nigeria’s round of 16 game coming up this next week Monday.

    Abiodun was sent off in Nigeria’s opening fixture against Olympics champions Canada after stamping on the foot of a Canadian footballer.

    The 19-year-old was suspended for Thursday’s 3-2 victory against co-hosts Australia and the 0-0 draw with Ireland.

    FIFA has now confirmed that she will play for Nigeria in the round of 16 encounter.

    Super Falcons round of 16 opponent will be known in due course as the tournament progresses.

    Nigeria will play group D leader, with England presently occupying that position.

    Nigeria finished second in group B behind c0-hosts Australia after playing out a goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland.

    Canada and Republic of Ireland crashed out of the competition after failing to secure minimum points to progress in the competition.