Nigeria and Canada will get their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaigns underway on Friday at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Canada go into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Although the Canadians are considered one of the top women’s teams at the tournament, years of underachieving has them as them at odds of 34.00, according to sportsbooks to win the tournament.
Dates, times and venues of our group games#SoarSuperFalcons #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/xPOFtCM4RM— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 19, 2023
Dates, times and venues of our group games#SoarSuperFalcons #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/xPOFtCM4RM
Nigeria are long shots to not only win the Women’s World Cup but to get out of Group B. Ireland and Australia are also in Group B.
The Aussies will have home support behind them throughout the group stage. It should help them qualify for the knockout stage.
Canada are likely to join Australia in the knockout stage. But a loss or draw to Nigeria could throw a spanner in the works for the Canadians.
Bev Priestman has one of the top players in women’s football in forward Christine Sinclair. The Portland Thorns forward has 323 caps and 190 international goals.
If Sinclair scores goals, Canada can thrive in the World Cup. If Sinclair’s goals dry up, then the Canadians will struggle.
Canada are not in good form ahead of the game versus Nigeria.
They failed to win their last three games in all competitions, losing to Japan and France before drawing with England.
All three of those teams will play in the Women’s World Cup. Canada scored just one goal in those three games.
Nigeria manager Randy Waldrum takes the world’s No 40 ranked women’s team into the tournament. The Nigerians qualified for the 2019 edition of the Women’s World Cup and reached the round of 16.
The Super Falcons are in good form ahead of the match, having won their last three games. However, two of those matches were against teams not at this summer’s World Cup: Costa Rica and Haiti.
Group B will be a difficult group to come through. All four teams can take points off each other.
Canada reached the knockout stage in each of the last two World Cup tournaments. The Canadians will fancy their chances of starting the tournament on the right foot.
Canada should post a 1-0 win over Nigeria in a close game. Nigeria may have their chances but will come up short.