Africa’s Performance at FIFA WWC So Far: Crucial Penalty Save, Baptism of Fire, and Basket of Goals

Africa's performance at the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup, after the first round of games, has been less than stellar.

Despite the progress made by Morocco and South Africa, the experience of Nigeria, as well as the excitement from the Zambian team, the gap between Africa and the powerhouses of women's football remains apparent.

The Super Falcons have been a consistent representative for the continent, participating in all nine editions of the Mundial, including the current one being staged in New Zealand and Australia.

However, their opening game in this tournament did not produce the desired results.

Similarly, South Africa, Zambia, and Morocco all faced defeats in their respective opening group games, further reflecting the challenges faced by African teams at this prestigious event.

Let's take a closer look at the performance of Africa's representatives in the ninth edition of the World Cup as the continent continues to strive for greater success on the global stage.

Nigeria

Nigeria, a perennial World Cup participant, stood out as the top-performing African side after the first round of games, having secured a hard-fought goalless draw against Olympic champions Canada.

Their impressive results can largely be attributed to the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, whose crucial penalty save ensured the game ended in a deadlock, per Reuters.

However, coach Randy Waldrum faces a significant concern with the performance of Barcelona star, Asisat Oshoala, who was tightly marked by the Canadian defence, limiting her impact on the match.

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Waldrum remains hopeful that the five-time African Women's Footballer of the Year will find her spark in the upcoming games to bolster Nigeria's chances.

Zambia

In their debut appearance at the FIFA Women's World Cup, rising African powerhouse Zambia experienced a harsh reality check, enduring a crushing defeat against former champions Japan, GOAL reports.

Before the quadrennial tournament, the Copper Queens had made a statement by securing a remarkable win against giants Germany in their final preparatory game. However, their maiden match at the World Cup turned out to be a completely different challenge.

The star forward, Barbara Banda, and her teammates struggled to find their rhythm, resulting in a lacklustre performance.

The scoreline could have been even more severe than the five-nil rout if not for the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee, which disallowed two of Japan's goals.

Despite the setback, Zambia will look to regroup and learn from this experience as they continue their journey on the world stage.

South Africa

The reigning African champions, South Africa, were the only team from the continent to score a goal in the tournament after the first round of matches.

However, their goal turned out to be inconsequential as Sweden mounted a spirited comeback to defeat Banyana Banyana in their opening game, according to Sky Sports.

Coach Desiree Ellis will surely be disappointed with her team for not being able to secure at least a point from the match, especially since Sweden's winning goal came deep in stoppage time.

Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope as they showcased their abilities and put up a strong performance. They can take heart from their efforts and remain optimistic about their chances in the upcoming second Group G game against Argentina.

Morocco

The Moroccan women's national team is yet to achieve the same level of success as their male counterparts at the World Cup after match day one, which can be attributed to their relative inexperience on the global stage.

Making their debut appearance at the Mundial, the Atlas Lionesses faced a daunting challenge against two-time winners Germany, and unfortunately, they were overwhelmed, suffering a devastating six-nil defeat, kick442 reports.

Star forward, Alexander Popp was in top form, securing a brace in the demolishing exercise against the North Africans.

Several factors may have contributed to Morocco's heavy loss, including stage fright, as evidenced by the two own goals scored during the match.

However, with their first World Cup match experience behind them, the team can learn from the defeat and regroup for their subsequent games.

A spirited display can be expected as they strive to bounce back and make their mark on the international stage.