By Victor Kanayo
One of Africa’s representatives, Nigeria, have officially kicked off preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
To this end, the country’s senior women’s national team popularly known as Super Falcons, will take part in a four-nation tournament scheduled for February 12 to 22 in Mexico as part of build-up to the global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
The nine-time African champions will feature alongside host nation Mexico, two Women’s World Cup campaigners Costa Rica and Colombia, representing the CONCACAF and South America respectively at the summer’s finals.
The Super Falcons’ first match of the tournament will be against South American runners-up Colombia, on Wednesday, February 15, before further games against Mexico Saturday, Febuary 18 and Costa Rica Tuesday, Feburary 21, 2023.
Already, Nigeria’s Head Coach Randy Waldrum has selected 24 players for the tournament.
In 2022, Nigeria narrowly qualified for the World Cup after securing a semi-final progression at the Women African Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
Thereafter, the Nigerian team failed to win another match as they lost to Zambia in the third place WAFCON encounter.
Heritage Times HT reports that the Super Falcons have also been unable to win any other game including friendly matches against United States and Canada women teams in double header.
In the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigeria will tackle Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland in a tournament which begins July 20.
Nigeria in group B, are is in the elite fold of only seven countries that have never failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in China 32 years ago.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s forward Asisat Oshoala made big headlines again in the Spanish Iberdrola league as she netted a hat trick in FC Barcelona Feminine heavy win.
The Catalan giant playing at home, walloped the visiting Levante Las Planas 7-0 with Oshoala scoring three goals.
