The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is underway, featuring 32 nations competing for the world title. The tournament promises to be the most entertaining in the history of the women's game.
Let's take a closer look at the Group B match between Nigeria and Australia.
Team Overviews
Australia
Also known as: The Matildas
FIFA world rank: 10
Finish in previous World Cup: 9th
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Betting line: +1,100 to win the World Cup
Manager: Tony Gustavsson
Co-hosts Australia are considered potential World Cup winners due to their squad quality and home advantage. A sellout crowd of about 80,000 attended their tournament opener in Sydney, creating a spectacle.
Tactics and Recent Results: Tony Gustavsson has been in charge since 2020. The Matildas reached the semifinals at the Summer Olympics. Gustavsson has seemingly settled on a 4-4-2 formation, yielding mixed results. Wins against Denmark and Sweden were encouraging, and the A-team impressed in a 2-0 win over European champions England.
Key Stats:
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- Kerr: 63 goals with the Australian national team in all competitions; she is the all-time leading goal scorer in men's or women's Australian soccer
Sam Kerr, the face of the Australian team.
Nigeria
Also known as: The Super Falcons
FIFA world rank: 40
Finish in previous World Cup: Round of 16
Betting line: +75,000 to win the World Cup
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Manager: Randy Waldrum
Nigeria has the best historical World Cup record in this group. However, they seem to be heading in the wrong direction.
Tactics and Recent Results: Nigeria have won their last two matches prior to the World Cup including one against New Zealand, but that does not paint half the picture of their preparations. The squad and coaching staff are currently locked in a dispute against the federation, accusing them of leaving wages unpaid and general neglect of the women’s team.
On the pitch, Nigeria have generally adopted a possession-oriented style of play using a 4-3-3 formation in Waldrum’s tenure.
Key Stats:
- 19 losses and 63 conceded goals in World Cup history, both of which are the most
Key Players
Australia: Sam Kerr
Australia's captain is the face of this team and arguably the face of this tournament. Her ability to lead the line, press and close down passing channels, tee teammates up, and score goals means she enters her fourth World Cup with the most well-rounded, complete skill set of her career.
Australia: Kyra Cooney-Cross
Four years later, the 21-year-old is a starter and key cog in the Matildas' midfield machine heading into the World Cup. Her partnership with Katrina Gorry has made the center of the park one of the Matildas' strongest areas. What Cooney-Cross brings to the duo is strong distribution, a solid engine, an ability to pick out passes and no reluctance in doing the dirty work.
Nigeria: Asisat Oshoala
Prolific forward Asisat Oshoala is widely regarded as the best player from Africa. Her record of 90 goals in 96 appearances for current UEFA Women’s Champions League holders Barcelona speaks volumes about her quality and goalscoring prowess.
Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria's key player.
Nigeria: Chiamaka Nnadozie
The Paris FC goalkeeper is already on the radar of some of the world's top clubs, having helped her team qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League in back-to-back seasons, but at just 22 years old she is still far from fulfilling her potential. This tournament provides an opportunity for her to prove that she is on course to become world class.
Realistic Chances
Australia
Australia is dusting off its highest hopes for the Matildas. Making the final four doesn't feel unrealistic. Throw in the support of the home crowd, and the Matildas could well be on their way to a best-ever World Cup finish.
Nigeria
Nigeria still have the best team in Africa on paper, but they have been lumped in a challenging group with Australia, the Republic of Ireland and Olympic champions Canada. They may cause an upset along the way but are highly unlikely to progress from their group, particularly with their women's football at its lowest ebb.
Match Highlights
In their second match, Nigeria secured a 3-2 victory over the host country, Australia.
Uchenna Kanu scored for Nigeria to restore parity. In the second half, they took the lead on a close-range header on a second effort play in the box following a corner from Osinachi Ohale. Massive moment for Nigeria's Irving, Texas-born coach Randy Waldrum who has been in public conflict with Nigerian Federation for non-payment of salary.
Randy Waldrum shutting up a few football Einsteins with these results.
Group B Overview
Here's a summary of the Group B participants:
| Team | FIFA Ranking | Previous World Cup Finish | Major Trophies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 10 | 9th | 1 Asian Cup (2010), 1 AFF Championship (2008), 3 OFC Championships (1994, 1998, 2003) |
| Republic of Ireland | 22 | N/A (Debut) | N/A |
| Nigeria | 40 | Round of 16 | 11 African Cup of Nations (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) |
| Canada | 7 | Round of 16 | 1 Olympic Gold (2020), 2 CONCACAF Championships (1998, 2010) |
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