Thomas Dennerby has made only one change from the team that defeated Korea Republic last time out as holding midfielder Halimatu Ayinde has come in for the more attacking Chinaza Uchendu.
Here's how our @NGSuper_Falcons line up tonight against the @Frenchteam WNT. Soar, @NGSuper_Falcons!!! #DareToShine #FIFAWWC #SoarSuperFalcons #Team9jaStrong #NGA #FRA #NGAFRA pic.twitter.com/GpppTrDqwB
— The NFF ?? (@thenff) June 17, 2019
Despite the coach’s pre-match comments, this signals a more conservative early approach for the Falcons as they look to make a good start against France. For the third match in a row, the front trio remains the same.
The trio of Ordega, Oparanozie and Oshoala would look continue to interchange positions in that final third to make life more interesting for the French defence.
Only four of the Super Falcons players were not even born the last time Nigeria progressed out of the group stage at the Women’s World Cup, with two of them, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Chidinma Okeke, being named in the starting line up against France.
Nigeria and France have faced off just once before at a Women’s World Cup game, with this year’s hosts scraping a 1-0 victory in 2011 thanks to a Marie-Laure Delie winner. The Super Falcons in previous World Cup games had tough times playing against World Cup hosts, having conceded 13 goals in three games against hosts – a 7-1 defeat to USA in 1999, a 5-0 defeat to USA in 2003 and a 1-0 defeat to Germany, in 2011.
Dennerby’s side would hope to win or draw in other to qualify from group A or hope that the final result from the Norway vs Korea Republic favours them in the case of a defeat to the Les Blues Feminines.