England vs Nigeria: How Super Falcons can get Historic World Cup win Over Lionesses

Following their goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland in their last group stage game of the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have their work cut out for them in the round of 16, after drawing England for coming second in the group.

The Falcons needed all maximum points against Ireland to make it out of Group B as first place and draw Denmark, but the points’ loss implies they’ll be facing one of the favourites countries in the competition: England, come August 7 by 8:30 AM at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Although both teams scaled through the group stage matches without suffering any loss, there are major differences in the way in which each team ironed out their results. While England won all matches courtesy of the 1-0 wins over Haiti & Denmark, plus the 6-1 win triumph over China, Nigeria only won one out of their group stage matches; two 0-0 draws against Canada & Ireland plus a hard-fought 3-2 win over Australia.

Without being told, the Super Falcons have it all to do on Monday against an England team that has conceded just one goal over 270 minutes of action. It becomes more dreadful when you consider the fact that the nine-time African champions only scored in one game, and fired blanks in two, further highlighting their profligacy in front of goal.

That being said, harder victories have been achieved, and if there’s any African country that can navigate its way past England, it has got to be Nigeria.

How can Nigeria scale past England?

It won’t be an easy task, but if Randy Waldrum can make his defence more compact and alert against Sarina Wiegman’s pacey and energetic ladies, the game’s odds might just be even.

Yes, Lauren James has been blazing hot for the Lionesses so far, with 6 goals contributions to her name in 3 games, the Falcons’ focus shouldn’t be on stopping her only, because the Lionesses team is rigged with talents capable of causing problems as much as Lauren.

Nigeria’s starting defence of Blessing Demehin, Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre, Michelle Alozie and shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been pretty decent so far in the tourney, although they’ll need to double efforts against England.

However, if the Falcons will ever get past the Lionesses, they need to execute their chances well, because they won’t be getting much in the match. The trio of Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu and Rasheedat Ajibade need to step up their game and make sure and make sure their chances are buried, or they’ll suffer the consequences.

Just like the captain of the side Onome Ebi said, they have to go into the encounter without zero respect for the Lionesses and play aggressively.

“Before we even came here, we didn’t see anyone threatening us. Having played against Canada, the Olympic champions; co-hosts Australia, and even Ireland and passing through that stage, I don’t think there is any team we are scared of playing against,” the 40-year-old veteran defender said.

“The mindset we had that qualified us for the round of 16 is the same mindset we are using to play any other team, we don’t even care who they are.”

For sure, it won’t be an easy feat. The Lionesses have everything working for them, and they’ll be looking to consolidate on their Euro 2022 and 2023 Finalissima triumph.

“We lost to them then, and that was a different team, but this team is better than the one that beat us.

“They are very mobile, very crafty and our midfielders cannot give them an inch of space to operate,” Mercy Akide, a former Super Falcons star that was on the losing team to England back in 1995 told ESPN.

That being said, this is football, 1+1 isn’t always 2, and the fact that both countries have never won the World Cup trophy ever since it commenced in 1991 further makes the clash a nutcracker. Nigeria will be looking to advance to the Quarter Finals and make it past the stage for the first time, while England will also be looking to make it past the semis.

Come Monday, it’s definitely going to be a battle to the line. Will the Super Falcons avenge their 3-2 World Cup loss back in Sweden 1995, or will the Lionesses get a second victory?