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2023 FIFAWWC: Super Falcons land in Melbourne for Canada showdown

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team arrived in Melbourne ahead of its Group B opener of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Olympic champions, Canada.
The Super Falcons’ delegation departed from their base – Hotel Sofitel in Brisbane – on Thursday morning, for the 100-minute flight to Melbourne, oozing confidence and a determination to sustain their impressive record against the Canadians on the biggest stage.
The nine-time African champions defeated Australian club, Queensland Lions FC 8-1 in Brisbane, after wins over Costa Rica (Mexico, February) and Haiti and New Zealand (Turkey, April).
Nigeria is up against it in their quest to make back-to-back knockout phase appearances at the tournaments following their Round of 16 elimination back in 2019.
Randy Waldrum’s side has done well to put together a three-game winning run ahead of this tournament, putting their preceding seven-game losing run to bed in the process.
Whilst Nigeria’s hopes rest largely on the shoulders of Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala after a 21-goal league campaign, Tenerife’s 21-year-old Gift Monday could provide an alternative outlet to Oshoala if they’re to find success, with Monday notching four goal contributions across her last five games (three goals and an assist).
Nigeria and Canada, who have met twice at the FIFA Women’s World previously, will open their account for this ninth edition of women’s football’s greatest showpiece when they clash at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Friday.
In their first FIFA World Cup meeting, in Sweden on 8 June 1995, both teams played out a 3-3 draw at the Olympia in Helsingborg, with Nigeria’s goals coming from Rita Nwadike, Patience Avre, and Adaku Okoroafor.
This was after Canada had stomped to a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes. Both teams were eliminated at the group stage. They met again in Germany in 2011 when Perpetua Nkwocha’s 73rd-minute goal made the difference at the Rudolf-Harbig Stadium in Dresden. Again, both teams were eliminated.
A win for either side will be the second Head-To-Head win at the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the winner.