Republic of Ireland 0 - 0 Nigeria | 2023 - FIFA Women's World Cup | 999948375

FIFA Women's World Cup Group B | Lang Park, Brisbane, Brisbane, Australia

31 Jul 2023 11:00

Republic of Ireland 0 - 0 Nigeria

Report
Preview
Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
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REPORT | WNT 0-0 Nigeria

A spirited performance by the Ireland Women's National Team saw them draw 0-0 with Nigeria in their final game of FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

31st Jul 2023

This game had a bit of everything: a backheel flick from Katie McCabe made for Tik Tok, a superb save from Courtney Brosnan ideal for a highlights reel, a courageous collective performance perfect for an analysis session and an occasion to savour for a lifetime.

Vera Pauw's team set up slightly differently from the narrow defeats to Australia and Canada by pushing Denise O'Sullivan further forward - with Lily Agg starting in midfield alongside Ruesha Littlejohn - and the Cork native was outstanding.

Nigeria are known for their pace and quick transitional play, but it was Ireland who started the quickest with captain McCabe fizzing a shot wide and Kyra Carusa going close during a first period where the team in white jerseys dominated.

On the break, Nigeria were a threat and had some chances of their own - especially early in the second half when they made some tactical changes. However, there was no getting past Brosnan who produced a FIFA Player of the Match performance.

With most of the 24,844 fans cheering Ireland on, it felt like a home game. The players soaked up that atmosphere and applied a lot of pressure to the Nigerian defence late on but they could not find that breakthrough.

In the end, Ireland got a point; their first ever in a major senior tournament. It was a good way to cap off an impressive World Cup adventure as they showed the world that they belong at this level.

Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne (Marissa Sheva 83), Niamh Fahey (Diane Caldwell 95), Louise Quinn, Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe; Lily Agg (Abbie Larkin 83), Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O’Sullivan, Sinead Farrelly; Krya Carusa.

Nigeria: Chamaka Nnadozie; Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin (Ebi Onome 84), Ashleigh Plumptre; Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde; Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Uchenna Kanu (Gift Monday 67); Asisat Oshoala (Ifeoma Onumonu 67).

Referee: Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico).

PREVIEW | WNT v Nigeria

The Ireland Women’s National Team will complete their FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 duties in Lang Park, Brisbane on Monday when they take on Nigeria.

30th Jul 2023

The final game in Group B follows on from narrows defeats to Australia and Canada, but Ireland are aiming to finish on a high with a positive result.

MATCH DETAILS
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Group B
Ireland v Nigeria
Monday, July 31
Lang Park, Brisbane
KO 20:00 (11:00 Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ2

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico)
Assistant Referee: Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico)
Assistant Referee: Enedina Caudillo (Mexico)
Fourth Official: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland)
VAR Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
VAR Assistant: Salome Di Iorio (Argentina)
Offside VAR Referee: Lucie Ratajova (Czechia)

TEAM NEWS
Heather Payne has been making progress on her return to play protocol following a hamstring injury and should be available for selection.

MANAGER QUOTES – Vera Pauw
“This is our final game in the FIFA Women's World Cup and we want it to be our best game. The aim is to win to give something back to our amazing fans around the world who have given us such incredible support.

"We also have a responsibility to do our best for the competition, as the result of our game has a bearing on both Australia and Canada. We have a competitive spirit that has gotten us this far and that does not go away just because this is our final game of the tournament.

"We want to do Ireland proud and finish in the best way possible with a positive result."

NOTES
- Nigeria have competed in nine FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments – reaching the Quarter-Finals in 1999
- 11 times Nigeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations, while they made it to the Quarter-Finals of the 2004 Summer Olympics
- There are 18 places between the two teams in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings as Ireland are currently 22nd while Nigeria are in 40th

MEDIA
Download official WNT Media Guide

FIFA STATS | CANADA 2-1 IRELAND
Pass Completion
100% - Louise Quinn
88% - Ruesha Littlejohn
83% - Denise O'Sullivan
76% - Niamh Fahey
75% - Sinead Farrelly

Line Break Completion
100% - Ruesha Littlejohn, Louise Quinn, Lucy Quinn
81% - Niamh Fahey
71% - Sinead Farrelly, Denise O'Sullivan
62% - Katie McCabe
50% - Áine O'Gorman

Attempts At Goal
4 - Katie McCabe
3 - Kyra Carusa
2 - Sinead Farrelly, Denise O'Sullivan
1 - Lily Agg, Niamh Fahey

Clearances
11 - Niamh Fahey
8 - Louise Quinn
6 - Megan Connolly
5 - Katie McCabe
4 - Ruesha Littlejohn

Blocks
4 - Niamh Fahey
3 - Lily Agg, Sinead Farrelly, Katie McCabe
2 - Megan Connolly
1 - Ruesha Littlejohn, Áine O'Gorman, Denise O'Sullivan, Louise Quinn, Marissa Sheva

Possession Contests Won
7 - Ruesha Littlejohn
4 - Kyra Carusa
3 - Lily Agg, Sinead Farrelly, Denise O'Sullivan, Louise Quinn
2 - Niamh Fahey

Aerial Duels Won
4 - Kyra Carusa
3 - Lily Agg, Louise Quinn
2 - Sinead Farrelly, Niamh Fahey
1 - Ruesha Littlejohn, Katie McCabe, Áine O'Gorman, Denise O'Sullivan

STATSPORTS | CANADA 2-1 IRELAND
Total Distance (m)
11,329 - Katie McCabe
11,069 - Denise O’Suillivan
10,336 - Louise Quinn
9,944 - Niamh Fahey
9,711 - Megan Connolly

High Speed Running (m)
774 - Katie McCabe
476 - Denise O’Suillivan
443 - Marissa Sheva
369 - Kyra Carusa
367 - Sinead Farrelly

Max Speed (KpH)
29.09 - Kyra Carusa
28.73 - Denise O’Suillivan
28.5 - Marissa Sheva
28.13 - Izzy Atkinson
27.97 - Katie McCabe

WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN | #IRLNGA

The Republic of Ireland will test themselves against Nigeria in their third Group game at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

5th Feb 2023

For the final game in Group B, Vera Pauw's squad will travel to Brisbane to take on Nigeria for the very first time.

TICKET INFORMATION
The application process to secure tickets in the 'Ireland section' is now closed.

Single Match Passes can be purchased here

UPDATES
Stay up to date with all of the news concering the Ireland WNT by subscribing to the Fan Republic digital newsletter

STADIUM
Brisbane Stadium
City: Brisbane / Meaanjin
Capacity: 52,000
Schedule: Group Stages games x5; Round of 16; Quarter-Final; 3rd Place Final
Distance to Airport: 16km

STADIUM ACCESS

Gates open at 18.00 (two hours before kick-off)

The Stadium is accessible on Public transport. Matchday public transport is free for all ticket holders. Note travel from domestic and International airports is not included in the free matchday public transport.

Brisbane Stadium is located 2 Kilometres from downtown Brisbane. It is easily accessible on public transport or on foot.

This planning tool can be used to plan your journey

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner

The main block of Irish fans will be in the north end of the stadium at the Caxton Street entrance. However we expect there will be Irish fans in many different areas.

A wide variety of hot and cold refreshments will be available. Alcohol will be available in all areas apart from the alcohol-free family zone in Block 314. It is strictly forbidden to consume alcohol in this block.

Stadium rules and code of conduct from FIFA is available here

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/774e1ff3319157c9/original/20221004-CCL-TKT-FWWC2023-Stadium-Code-of-Conduct-v1.pdf

Ticketless fans can watch the games free of charge on the big screen in the FIFA fan festival in Riverside Green, South Bank Parklands. This is centrally located on the Brisbane river.

TICKETLESS FANS

Ticketless fans can watch the games free of charge on the big screen in the FIFA fan festival in Riverside Green, South Bank Parklands. This is centrally located on the Brisbane river.
Ireland v Nigeria screening, PJ O’Briens, 57 Kings St, Sydney, Monday, July 31, 8pm
More details here EVENT DETAILS
Ireland v Nigeria screening, Congee Bay Hotel, 253 Congee Bay Road, Congee, Monday, July 31, 8pm
More details here EVENT DETAILS