Nigeria hold Canada to valuable 0-0 draw in Ireland World Cup group

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty to help Nigeria secure a valuable 0-0 draw against Olympic champions Canada in their Women's World Cup opener on Friday in a result that threw the group wide open.

The Canadians are the Republic of Ireland's next opponents on Wednesday.

Nnadozie denied Christine Sinclair from the spot in the 50th minute with a low dive to her left as the Canada skipper missed out on becoming the first player to score in six World Cups in front of 21,000 fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

At the end of a scrappy, bruising contest, Nigeria were down to 10 via a late red card and both teams earned a point to trail Group B leaders Australia by two following the co-hosts' 1-0 win over Ireland on Thursday.

"We've got to move on very quickly, you know, you can get lost and be really down on that," said Canada coach Bev Priestman, whose team next faces Ireland in Perth on Wednesday.

"Of course the team and I am devastated. We didn't get three points. But at the end of the day we got one and we took two from another team."

Both sides had their chances but 40-year-old Sinclair, who came off ashen-faced in the 70th minute, was perhaps the most frustrated, having also missed a good opportunity when she fired wide in the ninth minute.

Nigeria, the lowest-ranked team in the group, defended desperately to hold out the Canadians, and a roaring Nnadozie slumped to her knees, pumping her fists in celebration after the final whistle.

"I’m probably going to embarrass her, but I think she’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the world today," said Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum.

"I think Chiamaka's save really kind of lit the fire and made us realise there's still something to play for."

Nigeria's joy was