Canada 2015 begins, Oshoala leads Falcons

Prosper

Asisat Oshoala
The 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup gets underway in Canada on Saturday with the hosts taking on China in the tournament opener at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Seven-time African champions Nigeria, who are drawn in Group D alongside Australia, Sweden and USA, open their World Cup campaign against 2003 runners-up Sweden at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg on Monday. Both sides have met twice with the Europeans winning once and the other fixture ending in a draw.

The tournament, which was expanded to 24 teams from 16 in 2011, ends at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on July 5.

Canada are hosting the elite championship for the first time since its inception in China in 1991. John Herdman’s side have appeared in the tournament five times – and their best performance was a fourth-place finish at USA 2003.

China, who also hosted the 2007 edition of the finals, finished fourth at Sweden ’95 and were runners-up at USA ’99.In the second fixture at the same venue later in the day, New Zealand face Netherlands.

On Sunday 1995 champions and 1991 runners-up Norway clash with debutants Thailand at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, where 2003 and 2007 champions Germany engage Ivory Coast.

On Monday Cameroon face Ecuador in Vancouver while 1991 and 1999 champions USA take on Australia in Winnipeg.

1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medallists USA are favourites for their third World Cup title after they were runners-up in Germany in 2011.

Holders Japan begin their title defence with a relatively easy fixture against debutants Switzerland in the last match of the day at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Nigeria play their second match in the tournament against Australia in Winnipeg on June 12 – and end their group assignment against USA in Vancouver on June 16.

The Super Falcons, who have qualified for each previous edition of the tournament, will rely on their tremendously talented Liverpool striker Asisat Oshoala in their bid to win the trophy for the first time.

The Falcons’ best performance in the competition was a quarterfinal finish at USA ’99, and Nigeria coach Edwin Okon selected nine foreign-based players in his 23-woman squad for the event.

BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year Oshoala tops the list of the ‘foreign team’ consisting of France-based Desire Oparanozie, veteran Sweden-based four-time African Footballer of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha, Esther Sunday (Belarus), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Kazakhstan, Francisca Ordega (USA), Courtney Dike (USA), Ini-Abasi Umotong (England) and veteran defender Onome Ebi ( Belarus).

Rivers Angels defender Osinachi Ohale lead the ‘home team’ comprising Josephine Chukwunonye, Ugo Njoku, Ngozi Ebere, Sarah Nnodim, Precious Dede, Christy Ohiaeriaku, Ibubeleye Whyte, Blessing Edoho, Halimatu Ayinde, Martina Ohadugha, Cecilia Nku, Ngozi Okobi and Loveth Ayila.

Oshoala, who burst into the spotlight after helping Nigeria to final of the Canada 2014 FIFA Under-20 World Cup (Germany beat Nigeria 1-0 to lift the trophy) and emerging as the both Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner, will be out to show her class – and help fire the Falcons to the title on her return to the North American nation at the senior level.

“We can’t go to the World Cup to merely add to the numbers, but we’re going there to participate and to prove a point,” the 20-year-old 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year was quoted by FIFA.com as saying ahead of Canada 2015.

“I can’t say right away how far we’ll go at the World Cup, but I’m positive we won’t disappoint Nigerians when hostilities start in Canada. We have quality and experienced players in our midst who can turn things around.”
Source: PUNCH