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“Anything can happen” – Toni Payne confident Nigeria can stun England
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward Toni Payne is confident Randy Waldrum’s side can upset their English counterparts ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Round of 16 clash on Monday.
Nigeria has already stunned co-hosts Australia with a 3-2 win in the group stage and remained unbeaten heading into the knockout game.
The undefeated nine-time African champions were rewarded with a date against Sarina Wiegman’s side, who are also unbeaten and without a loss in the group stage at the tournament.
While admitting the quality of the European champions, the Sevilla midfielder is upbeat about Nigeria’s chances against the European side.
“England is obviously a strong team, a very good team, but we are as well, and anything can happen in this tournament,” Payne told Toritori News.
“If we go out there and improve upon each game, we can definitely get a good result and beat England.”
When the Nigerian team in the 1999 Women’s World Cup reached the quarter-finals in the United States, the tournament was a 16-team event and they made the last eight straight from the group phase, following wins over North Korea and Denmark.
Following the expansion to 24 teams, before this 32-team format, a team must negotiate a Round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals.
The Super Falcons achieved their best record at the tournament in 1999 and will hope to replicate and even surpass the feat here in Australia and New Zealand.
