The 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup is just over three weeks away before kicking off in Australia and New Zealand in Oceania.
Meanwhile, The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be among the newly expanded 32 teams to grace the anticipated event.
The West African country’s women’s national football team has been ever-present in every tournament edition since it was first inaugurated in China in 1991.
Randy Waldrum’s led Falcons in 2023 will aspire to better Nigeria’s past achievements in the competition and make the nation proud when the competition gets started.
Soccernet.ng checks back into history to bring out how close past Nigerian teams at this tournament were ever closer to bringing the trophy home. However, this can attest to how hungry they might be to grasp the crown this time.
Quarter-finals In 1999
The best any past Nigerian team has ever attained in the Women’s World Cup is the quarterfinals stage. The team was in group A of the 1999 edition alongside the host USA, Denmark, and North Korea. Their first match was a 2-1 victory over North Korea, with goals from Mercy Akide and Nwadike. The second game was a heavy 7-1 defeat to the USA before they rallied back with goals from Akide and Okosieme to beat Denmark 2-0 in their final group match.
The Super Falcons fought back from three goals down with goals from Emeafu, Okosieme, and Egbe in their quarterfinal match against Brazil before losing in the extra time.
Round Of 16 in 2019
Another time the Falcons made it to the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup was in the 2019 edition in France. The team was in the same group as the host country, as it was the last time they made it out of the group stage. Their first match was a 3-0 defeat to Norway before an own goal and a goal from Asisat Oshoala brought a 2-0 victory over South Korea in the second match. A lone defeat to France in their last group match ensured they made it to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
They exited the tournament in the Round of 16 after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Germany.
Group Stage in 1991,1995, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
The Super Falcons have participated in the past eight editions of the Women’s World Cup, a record for an African team at the tournament. They have failed to make it past the group stage on six occasions and finished last in their group in 1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, and 2015 editions.
The Super Falcons are expected to represent Nigeria honourably in the Australian and New Zealand edition of the event in 2023, and their early elimination in the round of 16 may spark the reawakening of the sleeping giants.
