By Victor Kanayo
Ahead of 2023 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are in Mexico to take part in a four-nation competition, being part of preparations for the upcoming mundial.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) the Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, Nigeria arrived in Leon, State of Guanajuato on Monday, ahead of the pre-world cup tournament taking place between February 15 and 23.
Hosts Mexico, Nigeria, Costa Rica and Colombia, are the participating teams at the tournament, which has the objective of preparing the contestants for the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
All four participating teams are headed for the finals.
The competition schedule revealed that Nigeria will play their first game of the tournament against hosts Mexico, starting at 4pm Mexico time (10pm Nigeria time) on Wednesday, February 15, three hours after the opening match between Costa Rica and Colombia.
On Saturday February 18, the Falcons will be up against Colombia at 1pm Mexico time (7pm Nigeria time) before Costa Rica square up against the host nation.
Costa Rica will be Nigeria’s last opponents, both teams locking horns as from 5pm Mexico time (11pm Nigeria time) on Tuesday February 21, before hosts Mexico and Colombia draw the curtain on the tourney.
Nigeria will be up against co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and debutants Republic of Ireland at what will be the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals ever, as it welcomes 32 teams – the same number as the men’s finals.
The Nigerian team had it rough in 2022 during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they struggled to qualify for the World Cup.
Since then, they are yet to win any match, which were mainly friendly games.
