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Harry Awurumbie, Live in France
For Nigeria’s Super Falcons the tricky match tomorrow at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble against two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winners could pass as an uphill task if the pedigree of the Germans in the world football men and women are anything to rely upon.
Both countries have been pitched against each other in the Round of 16 in the on-going 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. The match is the second for Nigeria in Grenoble and the first time for Germany in the city.
On paper, the Germany versus Nigeria match in 2019 will be a no contest because Germany is the second best team in the world with only the United States of America (USA) better than her in the current FIFA monthly ranking. Nigeria is ranked a distant 38 in the world.
Also, Germany has lifted the Women’s World Cup on two occasions in 2003 and 2007 in USA and China respectively. She has equally finished in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions in the last editions of the competitions.
Nigeria on her own has never made it out of the Group stage for 20 years now after Coach Ismaila Mabo took the Super Falcons to the 6th place finish in USA1999.
In that era the Super Falcons defeated North Korea and European power house, Denmark took rake in 6 points in the group stage but lost to Brazil through the Golden Goal rule in the quarter final to record what stands as the greatest heights of Nigeria in the Women’s World Cup final. However, Nigeria has waited for 20 years before qualifying for the next round as one of the four Best Losers in the 24- team format. The team has to get favour from other teams to finally qualify just 24 hours ago. It is this scenario and the fact that Nigeria is 36 places below Germany in the ranking that makes the match in Grenoble an interesting one for both teams. If Nigeria fails to the superior fire power of the “German Machines’ as the German teams are called, many will not be disappointed. But the 9th -time African Champions will become the Giant- killers if they hand down a shock defeat to the German opponents. The Germans may underestimate the Super Falcons at their own peril. The Swedish Head Coach Thomas Dennerby and his wards nearly successfully held the competition host and cup favourites, France to a goalless draw on Monday at Roazhon Park in Rennes. It took a controversial retaken penalty goal by Wendie Renard to subdue the Africans. For this reason, an upset by Nigeria or a low-scoreline by Germany is possible in the match tomorrow although both teams may go for it towards the end of the game because a winner must emerge in the knockout stages. Finally, Dennerby may likely ring changes in the team with card offences ruling out players like defender, Ngozi Ebere and midfielder, Rita Chikwelu while the attack will witness a surprise start line up depending on the formation the Super Falcons will adopt for the crunchy duel against Germany. Indeed, Super Falcons of the Class of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad have a date with history and if they beat the German team and qualify for the quarter final stage, they will be hailed as heroines in Nigeria and Africa. Let the Anglo-German war start at Stade de la Alps Grenoble.
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