FIFA Women's World Cup: Can Nigeria survive Group of Death?

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will begin their campaign for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada today.

They are meeting one of the tournament’s favourites, Sweden, in a Group D match in Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg. Tagged the ‘group of death’, they also have Australia and United States in company.

The Nigerian women, seeded 33, are aware of the formidable hurdles on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stage. They must overcome the three teams in their group, with far higher rankings. USA are seeded 2, Sweden 5 and Australia 10.

To succeed, Nigeria, appearing for the 7th time in the tournament, are counting on their two strikers, Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala, the BBC African Footballer of the Year. Both strikers in the last African championship banged in nine goals between them. Oparanozie, though just 20 years old, is also vastly experienced, having represented Nigeria at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany, the 2010 and 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Oshoala played at the last two U-20 World Cup competitions and won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot award at Canada 2014. Nigeria will be hoping that the two players can take their form from Namibia to Canada.

The Super Falcons defence will undoubtedly have more to do in Canada than they did in Namibia and coach Edwin Okon can depend on veteran Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale to marshal the defence. Nigeria’s best performance was at USA 1999 when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Brazil after finishing second in their group

Can they repeat USA 1999 in Canada 2015?

Oshoala believes the team would put in their best and overcome the superpowers: “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. 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,” she said.

In a few hours time, Nigerians will know whether Oshoala’s optimism is justified as the Falcons file out against Sweden in Winnipeg.

Just as the Nigerian team may be having trepidations about their group, other teams are equally worried.

Football pundits agree that all the teams will tread a tougher path to qualify out of the group.

The United States may be one the hot favourites but they also face a tricky test against the Australians tonight.

For four years, the Americans have been haunted by a heartbreaking loss to Japan on penalty kicks in the final of the last World Cup in Germany.

“Germany for so many of the players was one of the greatest experiences of our lives and probably one of the hardest,” recalled U.S. midfielder Lauren Holiday. “I think the second that the game against Japan ended, we wanted to go to another World Cup as soon as possible.”

While the U.S. are regarded as women’s soccer superpower, winning the last three Olympic golds, they have not enjoyed the same success at the World Cup, not having hoisted the global trophy since 1999.

Then it was Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain leading the way. This time it is another generation and perhaps the last chance for striker Abby Wambach, one of the greatest American players of all-time.

While the U.S. are packed with some of women’s soccer’s biggest names like Wambach and Hope Solo, Australian names are largely unknown beyond their own borders.

That could change during the World Cup with speedy striker Lisa De Vanna and diminutive midfielder Katrina Gorry ready to make a big splash.

“If we can bring our ‘A’ game that day, I’m sure we’re going to be a big rival to the U.S., said Australian coach Alen Stajcic. “I’m sure they’re going to know they’re in a game.”

*Additional reports by FIFA.com