WWC Nigeria v Canada: Match preview, what to expect, key players, team news, kickoff time

The Super Falcons will be kickstarting their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign on Friday morning when they come up against 2020 Olympic champions Canada.

Nigeria qualified for the tournament by finishing fourth in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco last year.

Canada on the other hand qualified by finishing as the first runner-up in the CONCACAF Women's Championship, thereby picking up one of the four tickets meant for the North America, Central America and the Caribbean nations.

Match preview

The Super Falcons are the most experienced of the two sides having featured in all previous eight editions of the tournament while their counterparts have featured seven times.

However, Bev Priestman's side are favourites heading into the game as they are ranked higher than the West Africans in the Fifa rankings and are the reigning Olympic female football winners.

They also boast of a better head-to-head record having won one and drawn one of the last two games involving both countries.

What to expect

This promises to be another enthralling encounter between two good sides.

In the last two games involving the two nations, six goals were recorded which should make this encounter an interesting one.

When you also consider the abundance of talents that will be on the pitch, this game should be a good watch.

Team news

Super Falcons duo Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde are suspended for the match after both players were sent off in Nigeria’s semi-final match against Morocco at the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations a year ago.

Key players 

1. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria): The Barcelona Femeni forward missed a large chunk of the  Women's Africa Cup of Nations due to injury and Nigeria will be hoping to rely on her brilliance in front of goal in this tournament.

She scored 21 goals in the Primera Iberdrola, the Spanish female first division which means she is in good form heading into the tournament and the record African champions will be hoping she can add replicate that form in this competition 

2. Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria): The center back is one of Randy Waldrum's best legs and must be at her best in this competition.

She is one of the most experienced players in the squad and she will have to play her vital role if the Super Falcons are to get anything out of this game and ultimately qualify out of the group

3. Jessie Fleming (Canada): The Chelsea midfielder played a vital role in Canada's qualifying for this tournament, scoring 3 goals during the CONCACAF Women's Championship to finish as the top scorer in the tournament 

She also comes into the competition in high spirits having won the Women's Super League and FA Cup with Chelsea.

Nigeria will have to be watchful of her if they are to get anything from this encounter 

4. Julio Grosso: The Juventus midfielder finished as joint top scorer with Fleming at the CONCACAF Women's Championship with 3 goals.

She has to be kept within close distance to brighten the chances of  Waldrum's ladies of getting a result from this game.

Kickoff time and venue

The match is billed to take place at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia and is expected to start at 03:30 am in Nigerian time.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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