Placed in the so-called group of death, the Super Falcons of Nigeria face Sweden, USA and Australia in Group D. Nigeria qualified to the Fifa Women’s World Cup as African Champions beating Cameroon in the final.
With Sweden, USA and Australia in the top ten of the Fifa ranking, Nigeria faces a tough challenge to progress from the group stages. However their performance in the game against Sweden could be a stepping stone for the Africans to cause upsets in subsequent games.
In Group D opener which saw Nigeria face Sweden on Monday night, the Super Falcons started the game with a lot of intensity before conceding an unfortunate own goal from a corner just after 20 minutes into the game. The Swedish made it two from another corner after a poor clearance by the Nigerian defence. Nilla Fischer only had to tap the ball into the net to make it two for the Swedes.
From this point it would seem the game was lost and preventing a humiliating score line was on the cards for the African Champions. It was not to be so as the Falcons picked themselves up and staged a comeback after the break. In the space of three minutes the African ladies had levelled: Ngozi Okobi finished off her chance brilliantly after creating room for herself with an exquisite first touch. Onome Ebi found Asisat Oshoala with a long ball, Oshoala still had lots to do and she popped up with a wonderful individual goal.
Sweden got into the front foot again and took the lead again through Sembrant after she received a cross from the left hand side of the attack from Lina Nilsson. With three minutes to go it was Ordega who was to have the last say in the game. She levelled the score as she put her shot through the legs of Lindahl, the Swedish goalkeeper.
At the end of the day it was Nigeria who emerged the happier of the two sides having showed lots of character and strength. The performance will spark belief in the camp and looking forward they will fancy their chances of making it through the group of death.
However the Super Falcons will have to keep it tight at the back to make sure they are not conceding cheap goals. They have lots of pace upfront and that could be their best shot of making it through to the knockout phase.
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