The Super Falcons kick-off their world cup campaign in Germany today against France at the Sinsheim stadium, 2.00 pm.

The team arrived in Germany on June 21 for the tournament, after four weeks training at Saalfelden camp, Austria.

Nigeria have participated in all competitions since the inaugural tournament held in China, 1991. The team has never made it past the group stages except in 1999, which was their best performance, making it to the quarter-finals before losing 4-3 to Brazil. Before the 1999 tournament, which was held in USA, the Falcons had never won a World Cup game, but conceding many.

The Falcons go into the tournament with much expectations, after impressive victories in warm up games. The team trounced Austrian first division side, Wacker Innsbruck, 7-0; defeated the Czech Republic’s national women team 1-0, before drawing 1-1 with the Austrian national women team.

The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, chief media officer Ademolo Olajire has said the federation believes that the team is in good form to compete at the highest level and excel. He also said the house has done a lot to prepare them for the tournament.

Nigerian Embassy have been on hand since the team arrival on June 21, supporting their training and supplying them with Nigerian food as the Charge d’ Affaires in the Embassy, Femi Rotimi, said they are ready to provide all the necessary logistic and support to assist the team to excel.

Nigeria is placed in group A along with host, Germany, France and Canada.

Germany, the defending champions and host, will play the official opener of the tournament against Canada at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium after the opening ceremony. But Nigeria would’ve played three hours earlier. Germany will be looking forward to be the first nation to win the World Cup title three times.



Nigeria’s previous record at the World Cup

Year                  Result                   Matches        Wins       Draws           Losses           GF           GA


China 1991        Group stage               3                0              0                  3                0           7

Sweden 1995    Group stage               3                0               1                  2                5         14

USA 1999           Quarter-finals            4                2               0                  2               8          12

USA 2003           Group stage               3               0               0                   3              0           11

China 2007        Group stage               3               0               1                   2               1          4

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