September 19, 2024
Just like any other tournament of this magnitude, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that’s set to take precedence on July 20th will undoubtedly provide a platform for young and talented footballers to showcase their skills and potentially rise to prominence in the world of football.
Certainly, no international competition is complete without a handful of players announcing themselves to the world, and with this edition of the Women’s World Cup set to feature 32 nations ( a record number ), you can rest assured that there will be a record-breaking number of breakthroughs for youngsters.
The record number of participants in the Australia & New Zealand 2023 will invariably provide more chances for players to break through with their national teams, specifically younger athletes.
In this article, Sixsports takes a microscopic view at all 736 footballers set to feature in this tourney and presents to you 5 exciting youngsters you should look out for.
Position: Forward
Age: 18
After being recognized as second in the Globe Soccer Awards Best Women’s Player of 2022 – behind only Alexia Putellas, 18-year-old prodigy, Linda Caicedo is about to play in her third World Cup in the space of 12 months!
Linda somehow managed to represent Colombia’s U-17, U-20 and the senior level, while also leading her side to the finals of the U17 World Cup and Copa America Femenina, winning the golden ball in the latter, which earned her a move to Real Madrid earlier this year.
The Colombian attacker is “one of those people touched by God, who was born for this,” according to her first coach Diego Vásquez, and she’s certainly one of the brightest prospects that’ll feature in this year’s Women’s World Cup.
She was chosen as the best player at the 2022 Copa América, aged 17, and was also picked as the best under-20s player in the world by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Without being told Linda, a cancer survivor is capable of shining like a one thousand stars at the Australia and New Zealand 2023, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Position: Central Midfield
Age: 21
Since making her senior debut in the then-W-League for the Victor at age 15, Cooney-Cross has shown that she’s capable of becoming a mainstay in female football. Although she started out as a forward, she’s morphed into a technically gifted midfielder who reads the game so well, with the sleek ability of linking up play and creating final third chances.
Currently an offensive 8, the 21-year-old is versatile enough to play different roles in the midfield and can slot in as an option across the front line if need be. Although not flashy, she’s quite good in a 1v1 duel, and also possesses an impeccable vision, sharp touches and tidy footwork that allows her to operate excellently from the middle of the park.
Coming off the back of a very good first half of the season in Sweden with Hammarby, Cooney-Cross is one to keep an eye on.
Position: Forward
Age: 23
Currently leading the lines for Madrid CFF in the Liga F, where she’s plying her trade, Racheal Kundananji might just be the most potent forward among all the exciting prospects at the Australia and New Zealand 2023 World Cup.
Having completed a move from Eibar to Madrid CFF last summer, Kundananji had a breakout season in the campaign proper, where she registered a whopping 25 goals and 3 assists, becoming the second top scorer in Liga F last season, just behind Redondo.
With her electrifying pace, strength, ball-carrying ability, positioning, aerial threat, relentless and poignant runs in behind defenders — Kundananji has shown she can do it against the very best, but mightn’t be chanced “enough time” in the competition, as debutant Zambia are faced with a tough challenge of making it out of a Group C that has Spain, Costa Rica & Japan.
Zambia’s 23-year-old captain Barbra Banda is another player that’ll attract a lot of attention, after exploding onto the world stage at the Olympic Games in 2021, becoming the first player in the history of the women’s Olympic football tournament to score back-to-back hat-tricks. Poised to lead the Copper Queens’ attack alongside Kundananji, both 23-year-olds have their work cut out for them in the tourney, and are expected to turn some heads.
Position: Attacking midfielder or deep-lying forward
Age: 23
In line for her second World Cup appearance at 23 years old, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade is another exciting youngster capable of setting this year’s World tournament ablaze.
A self-proclaimed “girl with the blue hair,” the Atletico Madrid star is “the type of player everyone wants on their team. Very talented and a winner,” according to Nigeria’s coach, Randy Waldrum.
“I think she has the potential to be one of the best players in the world.
“…she is in no doubt an exciting attacker – technically unbelievable, great pace – who can scale the summit of the beautiful game,” Waldrum remarked while discussing Ajibade with FIFA.com
The Kaduna-born footballer comes into the tournament in good form with nine goals for Atletico Madrid in Liga F last season. Coupled with her pace, skill and an abundance of quality in the final third, Rasheedat will be a thorn in the flesh of any defence on a good day, and will be instrumental to Nigeria alongside the likes of Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Iffy Onomonu and co, if the Super Falcons are ever going to exert their Continental dominance on the World stage.
Position: Forward
Age: 22
Being a highly productive dribbler, Sophia Smith is a creator with an elite goal sense that’ll be an added pivot to USA’s chances in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, whether operating as their spearhead or in a more withdrawn role.
The reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) MVP is gradually morphing into one of the finest attackers in women’s football, having scored 10 goals and registered five assists so far with Portland Thorns this campaign.
She also seems highly prepared and pumped to ruin defences with her electric nature and help the USWNT in their quest for glory.
“It’s on my mind 24/7!
“Every day. It will be my first big tournament with the senior team. Representing my country is such an honour – every time – so I can only imagine what it will be like in the World Cup. The men’s World Cup also got me really excited. I just think it’s going to be an amazing tournament,” she told FIFA.
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