Nigeria have been to every Women’s World Cup since the tournament was first played in 1991 but will be hoping for improved fortunes at the global showpiece when they compete at the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand from July 20.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Nigeria reached the semifinals of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco in July last year, which was enough to earn their World Cup place. They eventually finished fourth after losing to Morocco in the semis and Zambia in the third-place playoff..
WORLD CUP GROUP G
Fixtures (kick-offs SA time):
July 21 v Canada (04h30)
July 27 v Australia (12h00)
July 31 v Republic of Ireland (12h00)
WORLD CUP RECORD
1991 – Group Stage: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF0 GA7
1995 – Group Stage: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF5 GA14
1999 – Quarterfinals: P4 W2 D0 L2 GF8 GA12
2003 – Group Stage: P3 W0 D0 L3 GF0 GA11
2007 – Group Stage: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF1 GA4
2011 – Group Stage: P3 W1 D0 L2 GF1 GA2
2015 – Group Stage: P3 W0 D1 L2 GF3 GA6
2019 – Round of 16: P4 W1 D0 L3 GF2 GA7
THE COACH
Randy Waldrum is an experienced American coach who has been in charge of the Super Flacons since 2020. He had turned down the role before but relented when Nigeria came knocking again. He has had mixed success with the team having previously coached Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League. He was a former midfielder who played for New York Cosmos.
THE CAPTAIN
Defender Onome Ebi is 40 years old a stalwart of the Nigeria team having played international football for the last 20 years. She is a key figure at the back as an organiser and what she might lack in mobility, makes up for with football intelligence. She spent a number of years playing in Europe and China, so has that experience to call on as well.
STAR PLAYER
The undisputed leading player in the side, Asisat Oshoala is one of the best to ever come out of the African continent. She is a five-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year prize, including as recently as 2022, and plies her tared in Spain with giants Barcelona. She scored in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cup finals, so will be going for her hattrick Down Under. Nigeria will rely on her vision and clinical finishing if they are to be successful.
THEIR PROSPECTS
Given how they have dominated continental football over the last three decades, Nigeria might well have expected to have shown more quality at World Cup tournaments but have generally struggled over the years.
They have four wins in 26 matches, and two of those came in 1999 when they reached the quarterfinals for the one and only time.
Whether this current squad can match that, or go beyond, is a big question given they have a very tough pool Down Under.
Olympic champions Canada are a classy team, while hosts Australia will be looking for a trophy win on home soil. Even Republic of Ireland under former Banyana coach Vera Pauw are a tough proposition.
Nigeria, with all of their quality, will do well to get out their group.
THEIR SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France), Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigucu Spor FC, Türkiye), Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels), Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alavés, Spain), Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Türkiye), Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England), Rofiat Imuran (Reims Stadium, France), Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA), Oluwatosin Demehin (Reims Stadium, France)
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain), Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal), Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels), Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA), Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain), Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA), Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain), Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China), Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France)