Super Falcons look to peg Matildas in Winnipeg

The Super Falcons progression through the group stage is potentially on the line when they take on Australia in their second FIFA Women’s World Cup match on Friday at the Winnipeg Stadium.

With their last group game against tournament’s favourite and two-time world champions, USA, the Falcons know this match is crucial, with the winner in a strong position to qualify for the next round.

Australia lost their opening game 3-1 to USA and sit last in their group, one point behind Nigeria who drew 3-3 with Sweden.

It’s not lost for both teams, though, as whoever finishes third can still progress through to the round of 16 because of the format of this year’s edition of the World Cup.

Four of the six third-placed teams will go through based on their results in the group.

But a win against Australia reduces the lottery for Edwin Okon and his players.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Asisat Oshoala

It’s difficult to imagine the Super Falcons without Oshoala in their fold. Well, imagine Samson shorn of his hair and you will get a better picture. Weak. Vulnerable. Oshoala won the maiden edition of the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year for her performances with Liverpool in the Women’s Super League and also won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball gongs at last year’s U-20 World Cup in Canada. She already has her name in the scorers’ sheet bagging Nigeria’s second against Sweden.

Ngozi Okobi

The midfielder stole the show against Sweden, scoring and providing an assist in the 3-3 draw and was duly voted player of the match. Her energy and dynamism will be needed against the Aussies.

Caitlin Foord

Voted the Best Young Player in the last World Cup despite playing in an unfamiliar right back position. Foord is now a regular with the Matildas at 20.

Emily van Egmond

The Super Falcons are susceptible to dead ball situations and they won’t be getting a reprieve with Van Egmond in town! The midfielder was one of Australia’s best against USA.

KEY BATTLE

Evelyn Nwabuoku v Emily van Egmond

It’s an “E” battle between Evelyn and Emily in the midfield. The Nigerian captain will meet her match and to some extent a superior playmaker in Van Egmond who had a fantastic game against the US. She will play an integral part of the Matildas’ attack against the Falcons. However, Nwabuoku has age and experience working for her and will look to minimise the influence of the 21-year-old.

HOW NIGERIA CAN WIN

Edwin Okon will have to stick with the same method that earned his team a 3-3 draw against Sweden in their first match – keep up the tempo and attack with pace.

The counterattack is going to be key and they are going to need to use some high pressure, pressing tactics to force the Matildas off the ball so as to attack them on the break.

Falcons should sit deep and hit the Aussies on the break, just like the USA did so well in the second half.

HOW AUSTRALIA CAN WIN

If Australia want to win this game, they’re going to need to have to defend the wings adequately and nullify the counter-attacking threats of the Falcons.

Against USA, they couldn’t stop Megan Rapinoe on the wing and her pace and passing ability caused them a lot of problems.

With the pace of the Nigeria, Australia may have to make some changes to their line-up if they want to keep the tempo of the game at a much more moderate pace. But that looks highly unlikely as they are accustomed to their high pressing, high-line game.

In a match they dearly need to take three points from, the athletic and well drilled Aussies need to be able to maintain their intensity for the entire 90 minutes.

NIGERIA EXPECTED XI

Dede; Ebi, Ohale, Ebere, Chukwunonye; Ayinde, Nwabuoku, Oshoala, Okobi; Ordega, Oparanozie

AUSTRALIA EXPECTED XI

Williams; Polkinghorne, Uzunlar, Alleway, Catley; Kellond-Knight, Gorry, Van Egmond; Kerr, Heyman, Simon

PREVIOUS MEETING

This is the first meeting of the two sides.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Only God can predict how we play. When you read us as A, when we play we give you B. You can never understand how we play except of course you are God. And in Nigeria, once we add God to anything we do you can’t predict us. We know what is at stake and we are looking forward to getting to the final not just going beyond the group stage. – Nigerian coach, Edwin Okon.

Nigeria have shown they are a quality opponent…we all know it will be a tough game… we all knew it was the ‘group of death’ and it is probably even a better and tougher group than what we thought it was before. Nigeria play electric and powerful up front, quick and dynamic, good touches on the ball, they back themselves and have scored some really good goals and the Sweden game was what I expected to be honest, having watched them since almost 2010. – Australian coach, Alen Stajcic.

PREDICTION

Sweden are expected to lose to the USA, so a win for either side will take them a long way towards progressing out of the group while defeat would be dire. It too close to call but it is either the game ends in a draw or Australia nick it.

Sorry, Super Falcons!