- Nigeria finished second in Group B
- They played to a 0-0 draw with Ireland
- Zambia bow out with emphatic victory
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for the group phases of the Women’s World Cup after playing to a 0-0 draw with Ireland in their final Group B match.
With the point, the Nigerian girls finished at second spot in the group with five points, behind co-hosts Australia who won their final match with a thunderous 4-0 result against Canada.
In the final match, Nigeria knew they just needed a point to progress to the last 16.
The Irish, who were making their debut at the tournament and still winless, put in a bigger fight as they hoped to bow out with victory.
Ireland captain Katie McCabe went closest to breaking the deadlock for Ireland, fizzing two attempts just past the post in the first half.
Nigeria keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie had to be alert to parry a goalbound effort from Niamh Fahey on the stroke of half-time.
But the Super Falcons should have moved ahead when Uchenna Kanu was denied one-on-one by teenage Irish keeper Grace Moloney.
Neither side could fashion a breakthrough however as Nigeria cautiously saw out the stalemate to advance.
Zambia finish off on a winning note
Zambia players celebrate their victory in teh final game at the Women’s World Cup
Zambia wound off their campaign at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on a winning note, thrashing Costa Rica 3-1 in their final group match in Hamilton, New Zealand.
The Zambians had suffered two heavy defeats in their group matches, but ensured they left with heads held high with a worthy performance.
Racheal Kundananji’s goal in the dying minutes of the game settled the nerves for the She-polopolo who had enured a difficult second half, where the Costa Ricans had dared to come from 2-0 down and turn the game on its head.
Zambia were off to a flier in the game, Lushomo Mweemba heading home a corner to score the Southern African country’s first ever goal at the Women’s World Cup.
Captain Barbra Banda then etched her name into the history books by dispatching a penalty to register her name in the competition’s 1000th goal.
In the second half, the Costa Ricans came back stronger and Melissa Herrera pegged one back right after the restart.
They were saved by the offside flag minutes later when the Irish had the ball inside the net but the second assistant’s flag remained up.
Kundananji then completed the job for Zambia late on, side footing the ball past the keeper after a delightful pass from Banda.
South Africa, Morocco in bid for victory
Morocco women’s team celebrate. PHOTO/Guardian
Meanwhile, Africa’s two other representatives, Morocco and South Africa, are clinging on to hope ahead of their final group stage matches, to make a last 16 berth.
South Africa play Italy on Wednesday, while Morocco face off with high-flying Colombia on Thursday.
South Africa, who let a 2-0 slip to draw 2-2 with Argentina in their last match must beat second placed Italy, who are on three points, to make it into the knockout phase of the competition. Anything short will see them out.
Debutants Morocco will meanwhile hope to scour a point in the least against the Colombians, and hope Germany lose to South Korea for them to make it through to the next round.
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