The promise of a bright future is what has defined the women’s game in Nigeria over the past few years. Great results at youth level—Nigeria reached the finals of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and finished fourth in 2012—led to expectations that the senior team would soon reap the benefits. It hasn’t happened yet, although Nigeria did win the 2012 African Women’s Championship, and there is a strong belief within the nation that this is the year the Super Falcons can break through at the World Cup. It’s a tall order for the Nigerians, as they’ve been drawn into the Group of Death. But this young squad plays with a fearlessness that could serve them well in Canada this summer.
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COACH
Manager of Nigerian pro club Rivers Angels, Edwin Okon led Nigeria to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan. His success at that tournament led to his appointment as manager of Nigeria’s senior side, and he guided the Super Falcons through an unbeaten run at last year’s African Women’s Championship to qualify for this summer’s World Cup. He’s certainly bullish about his team’s chances, telling the BBC last December, “We qualified as African champions and that should worry the other teams in our group.”
GROUP D SCHEDULE
June 8: vs. Sweden in Winnipeg
June 12: vs. Australia in Winnipeg
June 16: vs. United States in Vancouver
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Nigeria won the 8-nation African Women’s Championship staged in Namibia last October. Nigeria topped a first-round group that included the Ivory Coast with a perfect 3-0 record, before defeating South Africa in the semifinals and Cameroon in the final. It was Nigeria’s ninth African title
TEAM STRENGTH
In a word, attack. Nigeria scored 16 goals in five matches at the 2014 African Women’s Championship, underlining its offensive capabilities. Coach Edwin Okon preaches a swashbuckling style of attacking soccer, with the forward duo of Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala providing a dangerous 1-2 scoring punch.
TEAM WEAKNESS
Nigeria is a young team, and in a group that includes powerhouses Sweden and the United States, the African’s lack of senior team experience is going to be exposed. Also, Nigeria is a fun team to watch, but Okon’s lack of variations to his tactics means Nigeria is pretty one-dimensional on the pitch.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Desire Oparanozie: Aside from Asisat Oshoala (more on her in a second), Oparanozie is her country’s top offensive threat. At 21, the Nigerian forward has been around—she’s played professionally in France, Turkey, Russia and Germany—and has experience at senior level, having represented her country at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
BURNING QUESTION
Can youngster Asisat Oshoala, still only 20, produce on the big stage? Last year, Oshoala scored a tournament-leading seven goals and was named MVP of the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada. She also finished as the second leading scorer and tournament MVP at the 2014 African Women’s Championship. But can the reigning African Women’s Player of the Year produce at the World Cup?
PROSPECTS
The draw was from kind to Nigeria, ranked No. 33 in the most recent FIFA world rankings—the Super Falcons were placed into a group with three top 10 nations in the United States (No. 2), Sweden (No. 5) and Australia (No. 10). Even in a tournament where four of the best third-place teams from the group stage advance to the Round of 16, it’s difficult to envision Nigeria being one of them. The difference in quality between the African champions and their group opponents is vast, at it’s not inconceivable to see the Super Falcons heading home without picking up a single point.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Nigeria has competed in all six previous World Cups, but only once made it out of the group stage—in 1999 when it finished second in its group and then lost a 4-3 thriller to Brazil in the quarterfinals. Four times, the Nigerians failed to win a single game in the opening round, and only have three total victories in 19 World Cup matches. One of those wins came against Canada four years ago in Germany, a result that meant the Canadian team finished in last place in the 16-team tournament.
• 1991—Group stage
• 1995—Group stage
• 1999—Quarterfinals
• 2003—Group stage
• 2007—Group stage
• 2011—Group stage