Women’s World Cup: Nigerian Super Falcons Qualify For Round 16 [See Full Fixtures]

Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Thursday qualified for the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup holding in France, which is the first time in 20 years.

The Falcons have reached the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup just once before now, a quarter-final appearance in the competition in the United States in 1999.

The African champion will now face European powerhouse Germany on Saturday, 22nd of June for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Falcons qualified as one of the best losers to the round of 16 after finishing third in Group A behind France and Norway but had to endure a torrid time before confirming their place in the last 16 of the event.

The African champions had ended their Group A campaign with three points, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Korea Republic and losses to former champions Norway (3-0) and hosts France (1-0).

But they had to wait three days later after their final group game on Monday to know their fate.

And the Nigerians were almost left frustrated after Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses beat New Zealand 2-1, meaning they (Falcons) had to slip from third on the best third-placed teams table, to fourth.

A 3-0 win for Chile over Thailand would have ended the Falcons dreams of qualification but having led 2-0, the South Americans lost a penalty late on in dramatic fashion to hand the Nigerians a spot in the knockout stage.

Cameroon also qualified as one of the third best-placed teams, thus making it the first time two Africans will reach the knockout stages of the competition.

The fixtures will be played between Saturday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 25.

Round of 16 fixtures:

June 22: Germany vs Nigeria – 4.30pm

June 22: Norway vs Australia – 8pm

June 23: England vs Cameroon – 4.30pm

June 23: France vs Brazil – 8pm

June 24: Spain vs USA – 5pm

June 24: Sweden vs Canada – 8pm

June 25: Italy vs China – 5pm

June 25: Netherlands vs Japan – 8pm