Sports
2023WWC: Nigeria Begin Campaign Against Olympic Champions Canada
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will start their 2023 World Cup quest when they file out against Canada in a Group B encounter.
Nigeria, having participated in all editions of the Women’s World Cup, will battle the Olympic champions at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Australia.
Despite making all editions of the global showpiece, Nigeria have only managed to reach the quarter-final once. That was in 1999 when they lost dramatically 4-3 to Brazil.
In the last edition of the competition, the West Africans bowed out in the round of 16 after crashing to France.
With just four wins in 26 World Cup matches, the Super Falcons are eager to rewrite history in Australia and New Zealand.
Asides from The Maple Leafs and Nigeria, other teams in Group B include co-hosts Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
When Nigeria start their 2023 World Cup campaign against the CONCACAF, they will be taking on familiar foes. Both sides have met four times, twice in the competition – group stage in 1995 and 2011.
The North Americans have won once, two of the matches ended in draws while Nigeria emerged victorious on one occasion.
But Canada’s coach Priestman believes Nigeria are no pushovers.
“With Nigeria, you could argue that their consistency hasn’t been great, but when they’re good, they’re really good. I just think we just need a calmness and a belief in what we do well. We’ll be going to try and top the group,” the coach told FIFA.com.
Coach Randy Waldrum’s girls have won three and lost two of their last five games. But their opponents have managed one win in the same number of matches, losing four of them.
He is already anticipating a tough tie with Canada.
“Canada are the Olympics Gold medalists and we know they are going to be very good. We played them twice the last year and have a lot of respect for them,” he said, according to FIFA. “They are a very good side, very well coached, but I think we can have the ability to be successful if we perform and stick to our gameplan.”
Team News, Players to Watch (Nigeria)

While Nigeria may have had some off-field skirmishes in the lead-up to the tournament, that seems to have fizzled away and the team is raring to go.
So far, there are no reports of injury worries for them heading into the clash against Bev Priestman’s charges. But Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimat Ayinde won’t play in the game after being sent off in Nigeria’s semi-final loss to Morocco at the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON).
Against Canada, Nigeria will be backing on in-form Barcelona Femeni star Asisat Oshoala to lead the line. The African Player of the Year is the first from the continent to get a female Ballon d’Or nomination.
She is also fresh off a second consecutive Women’s Champions League crown with the Catalonian side.
Sports
Edo Queens Win 2025/26 NWFL Title
They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
Edo Queens have been crowned champions of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for the 2025/26 season.
They won the title after drawing goalless with Bayelsa Queens in the final round of NWFL Premiership Super Six fixtures at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
This was s their second NWFL title in three years for coach Moses Aduku’s team.
Before the game, Adaaa Edo Queens were on nine points, needing only one point to be crowned champions.
Sports
World Cup: Japan Holds Netherlands To 2-2 Draw
A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.
Japan came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening World Cup match, with Daichi Kamada’s 88th-minute header rescuing a point in Dallas.
The Netherlands took the lead in the 51st minute when Virgil van Dijk headed home to make it 1-0. Japan responded six minutes later through Keito Nakamura, who levelled the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute.
The Dutch regained the advantage in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville curled a superb strike into the net for a 2-1 lead.
However, Japan struck again with two minutes remaining as Kamada headed in the equaliser to make it 2-2.
The Netherlands controlled possession throughout the game and held a slight edge in expected goals.
Both teams registered 10 shots, but the Dutch were more accurate, recording six shots on target to Japan’s three.
Despite spending less time on the ball and producing fewer efforts on target, Japan capitalised on their key opportunities and left with a valuable point, while the Netherlands were unable to turn their possession advantage into victory.
A draw gives each team one point, so neither gains an early advantage in the group. Their exact positions would depend on the result of the other group match.
Sports
World Cup: Sweden beats Tunisia 5-1
For Tunisia, the defeat leaves little margin for error heading into their next group fixture, while Sweden have immediately established themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.
Sweden on Monday started their FIFA World Cup campaign on a good note , cruising to a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their Group F opener at Estadio Monterrey stadium.
The Scandinavian side took control early through Yasin Ayari, who opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the seventh minute before Alexander Isak doubled the advantage after half an hour.
Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback when Omar Rekik pulled a goal back just before half-time, but Sweden returned after the interval with renewed intensity.
Viktor Gyökeres extended Sweden’s lead in the 59th minute before substitute Mattias Svanberg and Ayari added late goals to seal an emphatic victory.
Ayari was the standout performer, scoring twice in an impressive World Cup debut, while Isak finished with a goal and two assists and Gyökeres contributed a goal and an assist.
Sweden’s clinical finishing ultimately made the difference. Although Tunisia enjoyed periods of possession and created opportunities, they lacked composure in the final third and paid heavily for defensive lapses.The result gives Sweden an early advantage in Group F after Netherlands and Japan shared the points in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
For Tunisia, the defeat leaves little margin for error heading into their next group fixture, while Sweden have immediately established themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout rounds.
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