NationalMatches Nigeria vs Women's National Team
July 20, 2023 | Kickoff: 10:30PM ET
[2023-08] FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™
Nigeria

Nigeria

0 - 0

Women's National Team

Women's National Team

Melbourne, Australia | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

Attendance: 21057

  • 90+9'

    Evelyne Viens

  • Deborah Ajibola Abiodun

    90+8'

  • Jennifer Onyinyechi Echegini
    Asisat Oshoala

    90+1'
  • 82'

    Nichelle Prince
    Julia Grosso

  • 74'

    Ashley Lawrence

  • Uchenna Kanu
    Francisca Ordega

    73'
  • 71'

    Allysha Chapman
    Jayde Riviere

  • 71'

    Sophie Schmidt
    Christine Sinclair

  • 64'

    Evelyne Viens
    Adriana Leon

  • Oluwatosin Demehin

    54'
  • 46'

    Cloé Lacasse
    Deanne Rose

Timeline

Nigeria
  • KO

    KO

  • HT

    HT

  • 46 ' | Cloé Lacasse - Deanne Rose

  • 54 ' | Oluwatosin Demehin

  • 64 ' | Evelyne Viens - Adriana Leon

  • 71 ' | Sophie Schmidt - Christine Sinclair

  • 71 ' | Allysha Chapman - Jayde Riviere

  • 73 ' | Uchenna Kanu - Francisca Ordega

  • 74 ' | Ashley Lawrence

  • 82 ' | Nichelle Prince - Julia Grosso

  • 90+1 ' | Jennifer Onyinyechi Echegini - Asisat Oshoala

  • 90+8 ' | Deborah Ajibola Abiodun

  • 90+9 ' | Evelyne Viens

  • FT

    FT

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Women's National Team

Match Report

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team drew 0:0 with Nigeria in their opening match at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™. While the team dominated possession over the two halves and created several chances, the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net for Canada.

Team veterans Jessie Flemming and Desire Scott were absent from tonight's game due to injury. While Scott is ruled out for the entire tournament, Fleming is set to return in one of the next group-stage matches.

The absence of a few veteran players required other experienced players to step up.

Led by team captain Christine Sinclair, Canada started the game on the front foot. It resulted in an early chance for Sinclair, who missed a curling shot from the edge of the 18-yard box. While her shot was destined for the top right corner, it sailed past the post.

Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was called into action several times on the night. It began with Canada launching precarious crosses into the box, causing Nnadozie to take a risk and come for a high claim.

In the absence of Flemming, Canada’s set-piece specialist, winger Adriana Leon filled in with equally dangerous deliveries. However, Canada could not convert a goal in the opening 45 minutes.

The start of the second half resembled moments from the match’s opening minutes — Canada controlled possession and created chances to find an opening goal.

Sinclair beat Nigerian player Francisca Ordega in Nigeria’s penalty area during the early moments of the second half. Ordega lunged in and caught Sinclair’s foot, awarding the Canadians a penalty upon a VAR check. However, Sinclair’s penalty was saved by Nnadozie.

The missed opportunity didn’t discourage the Canadians. If anything, the response invoked more pressure on Nigeria’s defence.

Leon continued to trouble Nigeria with aerial crosses from set-pieces until she departed from the game in the 64th minute. Substitute Evelyne Viens sparked a goalscoring opportunity when she came on from Leon, but her close-range shot was stopped by Nnadozie.

Nigeria’s goal-scoring opportunities were scarce, but when the moments did come, it was met with a rigid Canadian defence and prominent shot-stopper in Kailen Sheridan.

The closer the game got to the fulltime, the more desperate Canada became to find a winner. The chances came in waves, but luck turned its back on the Canadians. Canada had Nigeria pinned in their penalty area until the final whistle blew.

Possession stats and the number of chances created suggest Canada deserved three points on the night, hence why accepting the lone point is more complicated. Nonetheless, Canada will set its sights on Wednesday, when they take on Ireland for the second group stage game.
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Starting 11

Kailen Sheridan
Kailen Sheridan
Goalkeeper
Kadeisha Buchanan
Kadeisha Buchanan
Centre back
Quinn
Quinn
Midfielder
Deanne Rose
Deanne Rose
Forward
Julia Grosso
Julia Grosso
Midfielder
Jayde Riviere
Jayde Riviere
Fullback
Jordyn Huitema
Jordyn Huitema
Forward
Ashley Lawrence
Ashley Lawrence
Fullback
Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair
Midfielder
Vanessa Gilles
Vanessa Gilles
Centre back
Adriana Leon
Adriana Leon
Forward

Subs

Allysha Chapman
Allysha Chapman
Fullback
Evelyne Viens
Evelyne Viens
Forward
Sophie Schmidt
Sophie Schmidt
Midfielder
Nichelle Prince
Nichelle Prince
Forward
Cloé Lacasse
Cloé Lacasse
Forward

Did Not Feature

Shelina Zadorsky
Shelina Zadorsky
Centre back
Gabrielle Carle
Gabrielle Carle
Fullback
Jessie Fleming
Jessie Fleming
Midfielder
Sabrina D’Angelo
Sabrina D’Angelo
Goalkeeper
Simi Awujo
Simi Awujo
Midfielder
Lysianne Proulx
Lysianne Proulx
Goalkeeper
Olivia Smith
Olivia Smith
Forward

Newsfeed

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | KO

Match started between Nigeria and Women's National Team

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | HT

Halftime

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 46'

Women's National Team Substitution of Deanne Rose by Cloé Lacasse

Deanne Rose

Cloé Lacasse

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 54'

Nigeria yellow card for Oluwatosin Demehin

Oluwatosin Demehin

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 64'

Women's National Team Substitution of Adriana Leon by Evelyne Viens

Adriana Leon

Evelyne Viens

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 71'

Women's National Team Substitution of Christine Sinclair by Sophie Schmidt

Christine Sinclair

Sophie Schmidt

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 71'

Women's National Team Substitution of Jayde Riviere by Allysha Chapman

Jayde Riviere

Allysha Chapman

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 73'

Nigeria Substitution of Francisca Ordega by Uchenna Kanu

Francisca Ordega

Uchenna Kanu

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 74'

Women's National Team yellow card for Ashley Lawrence

Ashley Lawrence

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 82'

Women's National Team Substitution of Julia Grosso by Nichelle Prince

Julia Grosso

Nichelle Prince

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 90+8'

Nigeria red card for Deborah Ajibola Abiodun

Deborah Ajibola Abiodun

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | 90+9'

Women's National Team yellow card for Evelyne Viens

Evelyne Viens

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jul 20, 2023 | FT

Match ended, final score: 0 - 0

READ MORE POSTS +

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