Falcons to face England, Denmark or China in round of 16

Uchenna Kanu (1st R) of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane / Meaanjin, Australia. (Photo by AFP)

• FIFA’s SG praises Nigerians for making Africa proud

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, yesterday, advanced to the round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, after a 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland. The Falcons finished unbeaten in their Group B, a first-ever for an African team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 0-0 draw against the ‘Girls in Green’ at Brisbane’s Lang Park means the Super Falcons will face either England or Denmark in their Round of 16 encounter on August 7. The Nigerians could also face China.

England, who currently top Group D with six points, will face China in their final group match today, needing a draw to confirm their headship of the park. China are third in the group with three points.

On the other hand, Denmark will take on debutantes, Haiti, in their final group encounter. A win for Denmark would see them as Group D’s second best team, provided China did not beat England with wider margin.

All the two Group D matches will kickoff simultaneously by 12.00 noon (WAT) today. The Super Falcons, who are nine-time African champions, began with a goalless draw against Olympic champions, Canada on July 21; defeated co-host nation, Australia 3-2 on July 27, before they played out a scoreless match against Ireland, yesterday.

Needing only a point from the game to reach the Round of 16, the Falcons took things easy, playing with caution against an Irish team that needed to salvage some pride