Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face co-host Australia, debutants Republic of
Ireland, and Canada in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Saturday’s draw brought the four teams together in Group B.
The draws held in Auckland, New Zealand, the second host nation saw an
electric opening to the events with music and dance.
Africa’s fourth-best team got opposition from Europe, CONCACAF and Australia.
Olympics champions, Canada and the Republic of Ireland complete the rest of group B.
African champions, South Africa were drawn alongside Sweden, Italy and
Argentina in a group of immense possibilities.
Morocco are in the same group as Germany, Colombia and South Korea.
Other African possibilities are Cameroon and Guinea.
United States, Vietnam and Netherlands are also in group E and may face an African opposition in Cameroon. The Lionesses are currently in group A of the
Playoffs against Portugal and Thailand.
Super Falcons, the only African team and one of the few nations to have made it to every edition of the global showpiece.
Randy Waldrum’s ladies finished fourth at this year’s WAFCON and will have
to improve on results from the recent outings to stand a chance to make it out
of the group.
Their last meeting with Australia in the World Cup was in 2015 which ended in a 3-3 draw.
Co-hosts Australia is gunning for their first-ever title, with quarterfinal outings their best results at the World Cup.
Canada, ranked seventh in the world, is one of four CONCACAF representatives.
The Canadians have made right previous appearances at the Mundial, finishing
fourth in 2003.
Nigeria will be making a tenth World Cup appearance in Australia and need to at least beat one of Canada and Australia to stand a chance of making it to the next round.
World Cup is to take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023.
Full draw
A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
B: Australia, Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
D: England, Senegal/Haiti/Chile, Denmark, China
E: USA, Vietnam, Netherlands, Cameroon/Thailand/Portugal
F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Chinese Taipei/Paraguay/PNG/Panama
G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, Korea Republic
When will the other qualifiers be decided?
A 10-team tournament will take place in New Zealand in February 2023 to decide the last three finalists.
The teams will be split into three groups. Two of three teams and one of four, with each group playing its own knockout competition.
In the two three-team groups, the seeded team will go straight to the final and meet the winners of the semi-final between the other two sides.
10 teams involved are Portugal, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Cameroon, Senegal, Haiti, Panama, Chile, Paraguay and Papua New Guinea
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