2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Like Nigeria, Like Canada

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are scheduled to play their first game in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Canada on July 21 amidst turbulence in both camps.

Currently, Canada who are rated 7th in FIFA women’s football rankings, are a world apart when compared to the Super Falcons who are ranked 33 places below the Canadian team.

Aside from that, the Canadian woman’s side are currently Olympics champions which means they know how to win major tournaments.

Hence, when news emerged that the Super Falcons are in a serious crisis after the NFF reportedly said they would not be given match bonuses ahead of the World Cup opener, football enthusiasts feared that the crisis would make it easier for Canada to beat Nigeria.

Recall that ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there were reports that the Super Falcons threatened to boycott the opening game of the tournament to protest against non-payment of match bonuses. Amidst that, there are reports that the technical members of the team are being owed salaries.

The major good news from the team was that the team had come out to debunk the alleged plan to boycott the game against Canada.

On the other hand, Canadian women have been agitating for equal pay with their male counterparts. Due to the ongoing protest, the women refused to play a scheduled sent-forth game before they departed for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Hence, both Nigeria and Canada are directly or indirectly going through a crisis ahead of their first game in the tournament which is planned to kick off at 03:30 AM on July 21.

As it stands, one can only wait to see which of the two women’s teams the ongoing crisis would affect the most.