Nigeria vs Canada – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Nigeria vs Canada on and what time does it start? Nigeria vs Canada will take place on Friday 21st July, 2023 – 03:30 (UK)
Where is Nigeria vs Canada taking place? Nigeria vs Canada will take place at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
Where can I get tickets for Nigeria vs Canada? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Nigeria vs Canada
What channel is Nigeria vs Canada on in the UK? Nigeria vs Canada will be televised live on BBC Two
Where can I stream Nigeria vs Canada in the UK? Nigeria vs Canada can be streamed on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
THE LOWDOWN
NIGERIA
- Nigeria are set to compete at their ninth Women’s World Cup, which is more than any other team in Group B, but the Super Falcons have only won four matches across all those appearances, reaching the knockout stage just twice so far.
- If Nigeria are to get out of a very tough Group B, they will need star striker Asisat Oshoala at her very best, the Barcelona forward having racked up goals for fun at club level and having also scored in each of the previous two Women’s World Cups.
CANADA
- 2020 Olympic Gold Medallists Canada are back at the World Cup and the side currently ranked 7th in the world are hoping to vastly improve on 2019, which saw them beaten in the Round of 16 and it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider them contenders for the big prize.
- Head coach Bev Priestman has had a number of injuries to contend with leading into the tournament and will be without the likes of Jade Rose and Desiree Scott, not to mention Janine Beckie, who remains a long-term absentee after suffering an ACL injury earlier this year.
THE TEAM NEWS
NIGERIA
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Nnadozie; Alozie, Demehin, Ebi, Imuran; Ayinde; Okoronkwo, Payne, Abiodun, Ajibade; Oshoala
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
CANADA
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Sheridan; Lawrence, Buchanan, Gilles, Chapman; Fleming, Schmidt, Grosso; Huitema; Sinclair, Leon
UNAVAILABLE: Beckie (Injured), Rose (Injured), Scott (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE KEY STATS
Nigeria and Canada are meeting for the third time in a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ final competition. Their first encounter was a 3-3 draw in the 1995 group stage, more recently Nigeria claimed a 1-0 victory in the group stage in 2011.
Nigeria have maintained their ever-present record at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and are the only African team to feature in all nine editions.
Nigeria’s Onome Ebi is featuring at her sixth Women’s World Cup, at France 2019 she achieved the notable landmark of becoming the first African to play at five Women’s World Cups.
Nigeria have won only two of their last 17 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ matches (D2 L13).
Canada are competing in their eighth consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup™, having missed only the inaugural tournament in 1991.
Canada’s Christine Sinclair holds several records for her nation at the Women’s World Cup, including most tournaments with an appearance (5), most tournaments with a goal (5), most appearances (21), most goals scored (10), oldest player to make an appearance (36y 12d) and oldest player to score a goal (36y 8d).
When Christine Sinclair scored for Canada against the Netherlands in the group stage at France 2019, she became the second player after Brazilian Marta, to score in five separate editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup™.
THE PREDICTION
There are plenty of reasons for optimism on Canada’s side leading into the World Cup and they should enjoy the vast majority of play here against Nigeria. When assessing the two teams, Canada look to have the edge, although Nigeria boast a selection of extremely talented individual players such as Oshoala, who could easy punish them if given enough space to exploit. However, when you factor in Nigeria’s struggles in terms of preparation due to their alleged disputes with the Nigerian Football Federation, it would be no surprise to see them get off to a slow start in the tournament. Back Canada to beat them by at least two clear goals.
TIP: CANADA TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
