The next Super Falcons match has been decided and it is against the Lionesses of England, who topped Group D with nine points after winning all three of their group-stage matches.
It is one of the knockout matches that was highly anticipated before it became official.
England have the most popular men’s and women’s football leagues with a lot of followers from Nigeria who have emotional attachments to the clubs and players in these leagues.
A rollercoaster of emotions is expected from Nigerian fans when the Nigeria women’s team meets the English women’s team in the next Super Falcons match.
A stellar show. ✨#BeyondGreatness | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 1, 2023
Super Falcons' next match to feature fan favourites against each other
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup groups stage will round up on Thursday 3 August and the knockout rounds will resume on Saturday 5 August, which is enough time for Randy Waldrum to get his tactics right for the next Super Falcons match.
Denmark and China were possible opponents for Asisat Oshoala and co but the Lionesses of England produced a fine display to dispatch China, who exited the tournament alongside debutants Haiti. England and Denmark progress to the round of 16.
Nigeria, who finished second in Group B, will now face England in one of two round-of-16 matches that will take place on Monday, 7 August. The game will see Chelsea attacker Lauren James, who has been the most impressive player for the Lionesses at the tournament, come up against the Super Falcons centreback pairing Osinachi Ohale and Oluwatosin Demehin.
Thanks to James’ free role in the Lionesses’ attack, she will also come up against Michelle Alozie and makeshift fullback Ashleigh Plumptre, who knows her well enough from their battles in the FA Women’s Super League.
Lauren James' game by numbers vs. #CHN
69 touches
9 duels won
4 take-ons completed
3 chances created
3 assists (!!!)
2 tackles made
2 shots
2 goalsThe first England player to provide a hat-trick of assists in a Women's World Cup game. 🫡#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/KeTLQaMYhr
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) August 1, 2023
The Super Falcons' next match will be played at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane at 8:30 AM WAT. The 52,500-seater capacity ground has been the home of the Nigeria side and this should give the West African giants a home advantage of sorts.
Preparations underway for next Super Falcons match
Manager Randy Waldrum will oversee a warm-down training session with the team while he works with his coaching staff to prepare for the Super Falcons next match against England.
The Nigeria women’s national team will carry out light preparations on Tuesday 1 August ahead of their match against England. It comes after they sealed only their third qualification to the knockout rounds in eight FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances with strong performances against Canada, tournament hosts Australia and the Republic of Ireland in Group B.
💃@FIFAcom secretary general Fatma Samoura @fatma_samoura celebrated our last 16 berth with us at Lang Park, after the 0-0 with #Ireland in Brisbane! 🇳🇬🔥💪#NgA #FIFAWWC #IRENGA #SoarSuperFalcons #IRL pic.twitter.com/kfvozjkSaM
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 31, 2023
Meanwhile, midfielder Toni Payne believes the next Super Falcons match is just the start of their route to the final. “If we continue to play as we have and improve on each game, we can go all the way to the final,” the Sevilla woman said after Monday’s game at the Brisbane Stadium.
“We are a team of wonderful and hard-working players and together we can achieve our goals.
“We knew we were in the ‘Group of Death’, we knew it was going to be hard, but we also knew it was not going to be impossible to qualify from it.
“The objective was to qualify and we did that today.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 months ago
