Farewell to the Girls in Green
Group B really had it going on at the Women’s World Cup 2023. The reigning Olympic champions, the record-breaking African Championships champions and the highly-touted hosts are battling it out for two slots in the last 16.
To add to that the Girls in Green, whose role has not gone beyond tipping the scales. In our Ireland vs Nigeria tip, we look at whether the Irish might bow out of the World Cup with a bang.
In the last two games of Group B, you can count on a long time. But these examples apply more to the parallel match between Canada and Australia. The Super Falcons from Nigeria don’t really need to do the math. A win or a draw will definitely be enough for the Africans to advance to the round of 16. Randy Waldrum’s team should not let this chance slip away.
However, it has to be said that the Irish, as World Cup newcomers, have not done badly at all. After the narrow defeats against Australia and Canada, the Girls in Green are already eliminated. Regardless of the outcome of the last match on Sunday, the Europeans will then travel home. We are leaning towards an African win in the clash between Ireland and Nigeria, so that the Irish will leave the World Cup without a point.
However, if the Super Falcons fall behind, things could get wild and there will be no getting around looking at the parallel match. Nigeria would certainly like to avoid this scenario, at best with an early goal. Therefore, betting on HT/FT in the direction of the Africans might sound quite interesting.
Ireland – Statistics & current form
Ireland’s performance at this World Cup should certainly not be overstated. The Girls in Green have not yet played a European Championship and are taking part in a World Cup for the first time. Therefore, not a single player has tournament experience. Vera Pauw’s team has given a good first visit card. Maybe they will manage to get a point or even a win on Monday.
Last results speak for themselves
However, if you take a look at the form of the Irish, we would rather not bet on a successful third and, for the time being, last World Cup match for the Girls in Green. Of their last seven international matches, Ireland have won just one, but have also lost five of them. In addition, they have failed to score five times. We therefore take a look at the odds for a win for the Super Falcons between Ireland and Nigeria.
In their World Cup debut against Australia, the Irish held back for a long time, basically only waking up when the hosts led 1-0. The Girls in Green created a few half-chances, but in the end they lacked penetrating power up front. The second group game against Canada was a completely different story. After a dream goal, Ireland took the lead after only four minutes.
Katie McCabe converted a corner directly. But after that, they could not withstand the pressure of the Canadians and lost 2-1. Nevertheless, Vera Pauw makes it clear that they want to give everything they have against Nigeria. The future of the Dutch coach of the Republic of Ireland remains unclear. Her contract expires after the World Cup and no agreement has yet been reached on a further collaboration. A success in the last group game would certainly provide arguments for Vera Pauw.
Predicted line-up of Ireland:
Ireland (Expected line-up) 3-4-3
Nigeria – Statistics & current form
For a long time, there were doubts as to whether Randy Waldrum was the right coach for the Super Falcons. Under his direction, they lost their dominance on the African continent and failed to win the African Championship for only the third time last year. This was compounded by a period of weakness that lasted for several months, and which killed all optimism for the World Cup.
Five games unbeaten
Somehow, though, the Super Falcons have managed to get back into the swing of things in time for the World Cup. The Africans have not lost in five games and have only drawn once. So there is a lot to suggest that Randy Waldrum’s team will now also get the much-needed point against the Girls in Green.
This is why we would not predict a win for the Europeans in the match between Ireland and Nigeria. It looks more likely that the game will go the other way. After a 0-0 draw with Canada in their opening match, the Super Falcons then showed all their class against Australia, despite a setback.
The Matildas took a 1-0 lead, but Nigeria piled on the pressure and equalised through Uchenna Kanu before the break. After the break, Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala added two more goals. Australia came close in stoppage time, but a 3-2 win gave the Super Falcons the three points that put them in a prime position ahead of the group finals.
Predicted Nigeria line-up:
Nigeria (Expected line-up) 4-2-3-1
Ireland – Nigeria Direct comparison / H2H balance
Ireland are playing in a major tournament for the first time. This means that the Girls in Green have seen relatively little of the football world in sporting terms. Their record against African teams is impressive, however, with three wins and a draw. Against Nigeria, however, the Irish will be playing for the first time ever. The Super Falcons, on the other hand, have a very mixed record against European teams. In 37 games, Nigeria have won just four matches.
Ireland – Nigeria Tip
Ireland will want to have a proper send-off from the World Cup. However, the Girls in Green are just as much underdogs in their final group game against Nigeria as they were in their previous matches. Coach Vera Pauw knows how difficult the task will be on Monday. But the Europeans would still like to say goodbye to the tournament with a point.
The Super Falcons could also live with that. With a draw, the Africans would be safe in the last 16. But winning the group is the goal, in order to have an easier task in front of them in the playoffs. We think Randy Waldrum’s team will take their chances by the scruff of the neck and that’s why our impulse is to place a bet on a win for the Africans between Ireland and Nigeria in the Bwin app.
In their last five games, the Nigerians have won four and drawn one. Three times they have not conceded a goal. Betting on a win to nil would certainly be an option that should not be ruled out. It is likely that the Africans will not want to take any risks and will take control of the game early on. That’s why we’ve decided to play the Super Falcons HT/FT betting odds between Ireland and Nigeria.
