By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s Group B rivals and reigning Olympic champions, Canada bounced back to reckoning in their second match by beating Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Perth on Wednesday to climb to the top of the log with four points.
This is even as Zambia has become the first African country to ctash out of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final after losing 5-0 to Spain in her second match in group C.
Canada’s victory has pushed co-host Australia to the second position on the log with three points while Nigeria maintains her third place with a paltry one point garnered from the barren draw in Melbourne Rectangular Stadium last Friday against Canada in the first Group B tie.
Also, the Republic of Ireland’s first Women’s World Cup campaign has ended in heartbreak as the country becomes the first European nation to crash out of the 2023 edition after two straight defeats to Australia and Canada.
The Irish Girls will now try to salvage what remains of their battered reputation when they clash with Nigeria in the last Group B match on Monday at Brisbane Stadium by 11 am Nigerian time as Head Coach, Vera Pauw’s side will like to leave Australia on high.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s senior women football team are the first African side to crash out of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Copper Queens could not make it past the preliminary stages after back-to-back 5-0 losses in their opening two matches.
They remain bottom of Group C, having conceded five goals each against Japan and Spain, and their last match against Costa Rica is tagged as a formality.
Japan’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica means the Asians and Spain are on six points each, enough to take them to the next round from Group C while Costa Rica and Zambia head home early in the competition.
Another African country Nigeria will on Thursday take on co-host Australia in tough match between the two as a loss for either side will reduce their chances of reaching the Round of 16 stage.
On Friday, South Africa will tackle Argentina for the maximum points while Morocco will clash with South Korea on Sunday in their second match.
