Nigeria Super Falcons will have it all to do when they come up against the Three Lionesses of England in the second round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Nigeria qualified for the round of 16 of the competition on Monday after playing out a goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland.
With the result from their final Group B game, the Nigerian women’s team progressed to the knockout stage after finishing second behind co-hosts, Australia.
The Super Falcons will face the Three Lionesses who finished top in Group A in the Round of 16 next week Monday in what is already looking like a tough task.
For Nigeria, the fear of Lauren Elizabeth James could be the beginning of wisdom due to the devastating form of the Chelsea Women’s striker in the tournament.
James who is a sister to Chelsea defender, Reece James, scored two goals and contributed three assists to help fire England past China 6-1.
The 21-year-old who was only denied a hat-trick by a controversial call from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has the most goals and assists of any player at this year’s Women’s World Cup with three goals and assists.
Despite not starting England’s first game, she has also become the first England player to be directly involved in 5+ goals in a game at the Men’s or Women’s World Cup.
These impressive numbers could be said to mean one thing that England will devour Nigeria when boh teams square up against each other next Monday.
However, Super Falcons forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, says the team is limitless and can achieve anything they put their mind to as the fearless Nigerian ladies dare England.
Ajibade said this on Monday when asked how far she thinks the Super Falcons can go at the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand following their goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland.
The Atletico Madrid Femini of Spain attacker is not scared as she believes she and her team-mates can defeat England to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup.
“Honestly, I must tell you that nobody believed in us because of the kind of preparations we had for the World Cup but of course, we have always believed in ourselves,” Ajibade said.
“We are limitless, we will keep pushing and we will also take each game one at a time but I can assure all Nigerians that the team is totally focused on achieving greatness.”
The 0-0 with Ireland meant that the Super Falcons finished as runners-up in Group B and unbeaten to reach the second round after a 3-2 win against Australia and a goalless draw against Canada.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons who are ranked 40th in the world are oozing confidence to stop England from booking a place in the quarter-final place after shocking higher ranked countries – Olympic Champions Canada, World Cup co-host Australia and getting a draw against 22nd ranked Ireland.
THEGUARDIAN
