Super Falcons: A review of Nigeria's performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup group stages

Nigeria got the point they needed to advance to the knockout rounds of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a feat they have achieved rather unexpectedly.

The turmoil preceding the finals was embarrassing, and a group-stage exit was anticipated. Three games later, the Super Falcons have reason to smile.

Randy Waldrum’s team have kept two clean sheets — the first time an African side has doubled their shutouts in one tournament in the competition’s history — and Asisat Oshoala’s goal against co-hosts Australia makes the Barcelona striker the only player from the continent to score at three different finals.

Indeed, the progress is admirable. Despite their undoubted flaws, they have defied the odds and shown a fierce mentality to overcome adversity.

Indeed, this is a side better than the sum of its parts, and you wonder how much further Waldrum’s team can go in the finals. After completing their Group B journey, Pulse Sports highlights some of the Super Falcons’ numbers from their opening three games.

• 3.0 – Nigeria’s Expected Goals (xG) from three games. The Super Falcons scored three times in as many games. Balance.

•  4.1 – The Super Falcons’ Expected Goals Against (xGA) after the team’s opening three fixtures. Among the qualified nations for the round of 16 (Groups F, G and H are yet to play their final round of games at the time of writing), the West African’s xGA is the highest. Worrisome?

• 7 – Waldrum’s team had seven big chances in encounters against Canada, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. Four of those openings were not converted.

• 33 – The Super Falcons attempted 33 shots at goal, averaging 11 per game. Oshoala took more shots (7) than any other teammate, with Rasheedat Ajibade and Ifeoma Onumonu (5) following the Barcelona striker.

•  9 – However, Nigeria hit the target with nine of those 33 attempts — 27.3 percent of their efforts. Ajibade (3) outdid Oshoala (2) in this area.

• 48 – Excluding penalties, the Super Falcons faced 48 shots from opponents — Canada (15), Australia (28) and Ireland (5). Including spot-kicks, the total figure becomes 49, with Canada’s tally rising to 16.

• 12 – Waldrum’s group conceded 12 shots on target in the group stage, with Chiamaka Nnadozie making nine saves. The goalkeeper’s saves count rises to 10 if penalties are included.

• 5 – No player has registered more key passes than Christy Ucheibe (5), with Toni Payne coming second with three.

•  0.4 – Interestingly, Payne (0.4) edged Ucheibe (0.3) when considering Expected Assisted Goals (xAG –> xG which follows a pass that assists a shot).

•  9 – Michelle Alozie and Halimatu Ayinde played nine progressive passes in the group stage. Ayinde’s return is admirable, given her reduced minutes in comparison.

•  8 – Payne played more passes into the final third in the group phase.

•  3 – Ucheibe (3) completed one more pass into the penalty area than Payne (2).

•  4 – Ucheibe, Payne and Kanu were involved in more open-play moves leading to shots.

•  0 – Jarringly, none of the Super Falcons’ goals came after open-play combinations.

•  18 – No player attempted more take-ons than Payne (18), who was successful 11 times.

• 9 – Payne (7) was outdone by Michelle Alozie and Ajibade for progressive carries. Alozie notched up nine carries into the final third, and Payne and Ajibade were joint-top ball carriers into the penalty area.

•  18 – Ucheibe attempted 18 tackles in the group stage, more than any other teammate, with 11 coming in the defensive third, six occurring in the middle third and one taking place further forward. She won seven of those tackles.

• 4 – No player had more interceptions than Ucheibe, with Ashleigh Plumptre joint-level with the midfielder.

•  24 – Plumptre recovered more loose balls (24) than any teammate, with Ucheibe one shy of the wide defender. Interestingly Deborah Abiodun notched up 11 recoveries in one game before her late sending-off against Canada in the opening game.

•  1.3 – Based on the quality of shots faced, Nnadozie has prevented more goals than the average goalkeeper. Nigeria’s shot-stopper currently ranks fourth; however, this comes with a caveat that the group phase is still ongoing.