Group B of the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup houses perennial participants of the tournament like Australia (8th appearance), Canada (8th appearance), and Nigeria (9th appearance), along with debutants the Republic of Ireland.
With the competition in New Zealand and Australia edging closer, Afrosport takes a look into the four teams with a keen interest in their previous achievements, current FIFA ranking, and recent results.
Australia – 10th in FIFA Women’s ranking
With the might of their home fans behind them, the Matildas of Australia are one of the pre-tournament favourites as they prepare for their eighth appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The team from Oceania has never made it past the quarter-final stage of the tournament, having reached this level on three previous occasions in 2007, 2011, and 2015. However, they could only manage a round-of-16 finish at the last edition in France in 2019.
Australia qualified for this year’s edition of the tournament as one of the hosts, which afforded them the opportunity of not partaking in the qualification rounds.
They head into the tournament with only one loss so far this year and the last time they were in action, the Matildas were 2-0 winners over England’s Lionesses, thanks to goals from Sam Kerr and Charlotte Grant.
Republic of Ireland – 22nd in FIFA Women’s ranking
The Republic of Ireland are one of the eight debutants in this year’s tournament, and they are among the 12 European teams that will be in New Zealand and Australia.
During the UEFA qualification rounds, the Girls in Green finished second in Group A behind Sweden and waited for the European play-offs where they defeated Scotland 1-0 to make it to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in history.
In their last match against 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations bronze medalist Zambia, Ireland were 3-2 winners, and despite being new to the Women’s World Cup terrain, they are expected to put up a fight and continue on their historic rise.
Nigeria – 40th in FIFA Women’s ranking
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the most experienced team in the group, with this being their ninth appearance at the tournament.
Nigeria qualified for the 2023 women’s World Cup after finishing as one of the final four teams at the 2022 AWCON. The eleven-time African champions are an ever-present side in the competition and have qualified for every single tournament since the first edition in 1991.
Their best finish at the competition was in 1999, when they got to the quarterfinal stage of the competition. They are currently unbeaten in their last three games including a 3-0 win over New Zealand in their most recent friendly game in April.
Canada – 7th in FIFA Women’s ranking
Reigning Olympic champions, Canada are one of the dark horses of the tournament as they get set for their eighth appearance at the competition.
The North Americans had their best outing at the tournament in 2003 in the neighboring United States, when they finished fourth after losing to the hosts in the third-place match.
They qualified for the World Cup as one of the six teams from the CONCACAF region, having finished at the top of Group B in the qualifying rounds. The Canadian team was last in action in April against France, who defeated them 2-1.
FULL GROUP B FIXTURES
20 July 2023: Australia v Republic of Ireland – 11 a.m. (WAT)
21 July 2023: Nigeria v Canada – 3:30 a.m. (WAT)
26 July 2023: Canada v Republic of Ireland – 1 p.m. (WAT)
27 July 2023: Australia v Nigeria – 11 a.m. (WAT)
31 July 2023: Canada v Australia – 11 a.m. (WAT)
31 July 2023: Republic of Ireland v Nigeria – 11 a.m. (WAT)
YOU CAN WATCH THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP LIVE ON AFROSPORT TV, CHANNEL 730 ON FREE TV OR VIA MOBILE ON VIDIVU TV FROM JULY 20 TO AUGUST 20.
