September 08, (THEWILL) – The Super Falcons of Nigeria, nine-time African champions and FIFA World Cup-bound team, have left the US after a losing two-match campaign against the three-time world champions USWNT and will next face Japan.
In the second fixture of the doubleheader on Tuesday, Uchenna Kanu, a forward based in Mexico, scored an equaliser in the 50th minute at Audi Field in Washington, marking the first Nigerian to score against the USWNT in 20 years. It followed the Saturday tie in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Americans won by four goals.
The Super Falcons left the US on Wednesday, with attention now turning to the October 6 friendly against Japan at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe during FIFA Women’s International window.
The Women’s National Team of Japan, popularly known as Nadeshiko Japan, is ranked 13th in the world. The sole competitive matchup between the two teams occurred at the 2004 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament when, on August 14, Nadeshiko defeated the Falcons 1-0 at Piraeus’ Karaiskakis Stadium.
Nadeshiko also won back-to-back friendlies against the Super Falcons in 2013 2-0 each. At the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2011, the final finished 2-2, before Japan defeated the USWNT in a thrilling penalty shootout to win and become the first Asian team to win the senior FIFA World Cup.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
