Nigeria’s Super Falcons are not in France just to play football, they have taken time to pay a visit to a mayor in the city of Rennes. On Saturday, Super Falcons players and officials paid a visit to the Mayor of Bedee in Rennes, ahead of Monday’s clash with the host nation.
Nigeria must avoid defeat for a chance to advance from the group stage. The Falcons put up a credible effort at the sixth edition of the Women’s World Cup in Germany in 2011, but after one-goal defeats by host nation Germany and France, their one-goal defeat of Canada proved inadequate to steer them to the second round.
Hello #Rennes, #NGA @NGSuper_Falcons have arrived! #SoarSuperFalcons #Team9jaStrong #DareToShine #FifaWWC pic.twitter.com/YAnoWzWtXW
— The NFF ?? (@thenff) June 13, 2019
A win or draw against the Les Bleues on Monday evening (match starts at 8pm Nigeria time) will automatically send the Super Falcons to the Round of 16, though a narrow loss might also see them sneak in depending on results in other groups, as well as the result between Group A mates Norway and Korea Republic – which is starting at the same time in Reims.
Norway have three points from their defeat of Nigeria but lost to France. Korea Republic could also go to three points if they defeat Norway on Monday, but their goals deficit of minus six (lost 0-4 to France and 0-2 to Nigeria) is heavy. Nigeria has only a minus one goal deficit.
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Train like you mean to play and @NGSuper_Falcons mean to play ??#SoarSuperFalcons // #Team9jaStrong // #FIFAWWC // #DaretoShine pic.twitter.com/TNlG5fin38
— Ann Odong, FIFA (@FIFAWWC_NGA) June 14, 2019
Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Korea Republic was the first time in 20 years (also since USA 1999) that the Super Falcons won a World Cup match by more than one goal, and was also the first win by an African team at France 2019.
Africa’s other flagbearers South Africa and Cameroon have each lost their first two matches of the campaign.