BRISBANE, Australia – Nigeria’s Super Falcons held their ground against the highly-favoured Three Lionesses of England during the Round of 16 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The match occurred on Monday, August 7, 2023, in Brisbane, Australia.
Contrary to the expectations of pundits, who predicted a complete victory for England, the Super Falcons, currently ranked number 40 in the world, fought vigorously.
The Falcons held the Three Lionesses, the world’s fourth-best female national team, to a goalless draw for 90 minutes, pushing the game into extra time.
The subsequent 30 minutes of extra time saw neither team score, pushing the match into a deciding penalty shootout.
Nigeria missed two kicks, while England missed only one, resulting in a 4-2 win for the English team.
With this loss, the Super Falcons, who have qualified for the Women’s World Cup six times, missed the chance to become the first African nation to make it to the competition’s quarter-finals.
In the initial rounds of the tournament, England finished top in Group D, while Nigeria secured second place in Group B.
Prior to this nail-biting encounter, the Super Falcons and Three Lionesses had met twice in the competition, with England coming out on top both times with a 3-2 victory.
Despite their loss, the Super Falcons’ commendable performance against one of the world’s top teams is a sign of women’s football’s continuous growth and strength in Africa.
Super Falcons Versus Lionesses: Midfielder Forecasts Triumph in Match Against England
As the round of 16 clash in the Women’s World Cup between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and England’s Three Lionesses approaches on Monday, August 7, 2023, Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne assures fans that Nigeria can defeat the formidable English team.
Nigerians have been apprehensive since England’s 6-1 triumph over China last Tuesday, which led to the upcoming face-off with the Super Falcons.
Questions are being raised about whether the Coach Randy Waldrum-led Super Falcons have what it takes to halt the English team’s winning streak.
But Payne, the Sevilla of Spain midfielder, seems confident about the upcoming match.
“England is obviously a strong, excellent team, but we are as well, and anything can happen in this tournament,” Payne expressed in a conversation with journalists in Brisbane, Australia. “If we go out there and improve upon each game, we can get a good result and beat England.”
In the meantime, England’s leading scorer, Lauren James, warns the Super Falcons to brace themselves for Monday’s encounter.
James, who scored twice in England’s recent victory over China and was voted player of the match, stated that she is still aiming to improve her game for the World Cup.
“Each day, each game, I’m looking to improve and get better, and there’s many more years of improvement. I can always get better. I need to stay focused,” said James.
Despite not starting England’s first game, James has made history as the youngest player directly involved in five goals in a single Women’s World Cup match.
She has the highest number of goals and assists (3 goals, 3 assists) of any player in this year’s tournament and has become the first England player to be directly involved in 5+ goals in a game at the Men’s or Women’s World Cup.
“I’m happy for the team; everyone is buzzing, and we look forward to the next round. I felt free, whether I’m on the wing or in the middle, I’m just happy to be on the pitch playing and enjoying my football. I’m happy I can also contribute to goals,” James added.
As the world eagerly anticipates the outcome of Monday’s match, the teams prepare for what could be a game that defines their tournament.
