Canada 2015: Super Falcons in group of death

AFRICA'S reigning champions, the Super Falcons have been drawn in group D dubbed 'the group of death' in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled to hold from June 6 to July 5 in Canada,

At the draw held on Saturday at Canada's capital city, Ottawa, the Nigerian team in one of the group games will face the number one team in the world, the United States of America which won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999.

Nigeria who has featured in all the World Cup finals since its introduction in 1991 and currently ranked 35th in the world will also confront Australia and Sweden in the preliminary round of the competition.

Sweden ranked fifth in the world lost in the final of the 2003 World Cup, while Australia which reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals is ranked 10th in the world.

Nigeria only played in the quarter-final of the Women's World Cup in 1999, where it lost 4-3 to the Samba Girls of Brazil via a golden goal. .

The draw was attended by the Super Falcons head coach Edwin Okon alongside the team's secretary
Ruth David and media officer Gracious Akujobi.

Okon while speaking after the draw for Canada 2015 said no group is easy at the global stage after all.

"There is no group that is simple. Every group is tough. Every team is good. We will set a target for ourselves. We will need to work hard to get to the level we want at this tournament," said the Rivers Angels' tactician.

Also, a women soccer analyst, Oba Suleiman expressed optimism that the Super Falcons would spring surprises in Canada.

"I believe Nigeria will come out of the group given the youthfulness of the team we have at the moment. We have a crop of young players this time who are at their peak and have gained experience through the U-17 amd U-20 World Cup finals.

"So, with luck, we can go as far as the semi-final if our players can maintain their current form and play to their potential in Canada, the Falcons are not going to Canada to make up the numbers, that I'm sure of," said Oloo as he is fondly called.

The seventh World Cup in Canada next year will be staged in six cities Edmonton, Moncton, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Winnipeg.

The groupings:
Group A: Canada, China, New Zealand, The Netherlands.
Group B: Germany, the Ivory Coast, Norway, Thailand.
Group C: Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador.
Group D: United States, Nigeria, Sweden, Australia.
Group E: Brazil, South Korea, Spain, Costa Rica.
Group F: France, England, Mexico, Colombia.

Caption: Reigning FIFA U-20 Most Valuable Player and highest goal scorer at the last U-20 World Cup, Asisat Oshoala celebrates after scoring at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada this year. She is among the players expected to make debut at the senior World Cup in Canada next year.