England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (WWC) campaign bears an uncanny resemblance to their triumphant UEFA European Championship run last summer.
Starting both group stages with 1-0 wins and finishing with convincing five-goal victories while not conceding from open play, the Lionesses have displayed remarkable consistency.
Despite the absence of injured midfielder Keira Walsh, Lauren James stepped up brilliantly against China, contributing to five of England’s six goals in their impressive 6-1 victory.
Now, in pursuit of their fifth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 quarter-final appearance, England faces Nigeria, a team that they defeated 3-2 in their third-ever WWC game back in 1995.
Moreover, England’s 3-0 victory over Cameroon at this stage in 2019 bodes well, considering this will be their only other WWC encounter against an African side—a feat they replicated by beating Nigeria with the same scoreline in their most recent H2H clash in 2004.
However, Australia learned the hard way that Nigeria cannot be underestimated. Squandering a 1-0 lead, they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against the spirited Africans.
The Super Falcons’ journey to the last 16 has been remarkable, overcoming the reigning Olympic champions, Canada, despite off-field disputes with their board.
Buoyed by players honing their skills at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala, who previously played at Arsenal and Liverpool, Nigeria will be a formidable opponent for England.
Oshoala’s experience in the English game could be pivotal for her teammates as they seek to extend their six-game unbeaten streak (W4, D2) in official fixtures under Randy Waldrum’s guidance.
Her crucial strike against Australia highlighted her scoring prowess, but it’s worth noting that she hasn’t opened the scoring for Nigeria since September 2019.
The spotlight will also be on England’s Lauren James, who has been instrumental in her team’s success, contributing to six of their eight goals at the tournament (G3, A3).
Interestingly, England has won all three of the matches in which James found the net, indicating her importance to the Lionesses’ aspirations.
Both teams boast impressive records, but it’s worth noting that Nigeria hasn’t scored in their last four WWC encounters against European sides (D1, L3).
This statistic adds an intriguing layer of anticipation to the upcoming clash, with England aiming to maintain their dominance against African opponents while Nigeria seeks to break their scoring drought against European teams.
The stage is set for an enthralling encounter between two determined sides. With England looking to replicate their European success on the global stage and Nigeria seeking to upset the odds once again, football fans can expect a thrilling match full of skill, passion, and drama.
As the WWC quarter-finals beckon, all eyes will be on this clash of titans as they battle for a place among the world’s best.
