England arrived in Bielsko-Biała fancied to go through. Nigeria’s Falconets sent them home instead, and did it with a scoreline that leaves no room for argument.
Ten days ago, the group stage looked like an exit script for Nigeria’s Falconets. They lost 2-0 to Spain, then drew 0-0 with China. A place in the knockout rounds was not guaranteed.
It took a 10-1 demolition of New Caledonia, with Ramotalahi Kareem and Winner Onajite David both scoring hat-tricks, to drag the team into second place in Group F on four points. That result set up Thursday’s meeting with England, the side that had finished third in Group B.
Tosin Rafiu wasted no time.
In the eighth minute, she ran onto a through ball and slotted a low finish past England goalkeeper Katie Cox. From that point, Nigeria’s Falconets never trailed and never looked like surrendering control of the contest.
England had one route back before half-time.
Rachel Maltby stepped up to a penalty that could have levelled the tie, but captain and goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma guessed correctly and kept it out. The save proved a turning point.
Two minutes into the second half, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei doubled the lead after England failed to clear a corner properly. Mary Mamudu completed the scoring in the 73rd minute, finishing off a cutback from Akekoromowei.
England head coach Lydia Bedford admitted afterwards, in comments reported by Soccernet.ng, that Nigeria’s forwards caused problems with their direct running and physicality.
It sounded like an acknowledgement that England had underestimated the challenge posed by Nigeria’s Falconets.
The 3-0 victory is now the biggest win Nigeria’s Falconets have recorded over England at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria have finished runners-up at this tournament twice before and never gone one step further. After a goalless start to the competition, the side has now scored 13 goals across its last two matches.
Whether that momentum can carry Nigeria’s Falconets deeper into the tournament is the question the coming days will answer.
Nigeria’s Falconets will face the winner of Poland against Colombia in the quarter-final on Sunday at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź, with kick-off set for 6:30pm Nigerian time.
Whoever gets there, they now have a recent example of what happens when opponents underestimate Nigeria’s Falconets.
While attention focused on Nigeria’s Falconets in Poland, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle was making his own announcement back home.
As Vanguard reported, Chelle named two separate squads: one for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar on 25 September and Guinea-Bissau on 29 September, and another for a friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod on 6 October.
The qualifying squad leaned on familiar faces, among them Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi.
Nigeria sit in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania. Because Tanzania already hold an automatic finals place as hosts, only the highest-placed side among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will progress.
The Russia squad told a different story.
Chelle used it to test newer options, handing places to Isaac James, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor alongside Kelechi Iheanacho.
One Nigerian side spent Thursday fighting to survive a tournament it once seemed set to exit. The other spent it planning a campaign that has not yet begun.
Nigeria’s Falconets have already done the harder part: turning a shaky group stage into a place among the last eight.
What happens in Łódź on Sunday will determine whether the revival of Nigeria’s Falconets ends as a memorable recovery or grows into the deepest World Cup run in the team’s history.
