History book: July 1, 1999 Super Falcons played in their first World Cup Quater Final match
Today on History book, we present a throwback to July 1, 1999, day Nigeria’s Super Falcons played in their first FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter final match.
This review is inspired by the comments of current Super Falcons skipper Onome Ebi, promising the team will better the performance of the 1999 set at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
THE 1999 SUPER FALCONSÂ
The Coach Ismaila Mabo tutored Super Team to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup listed the likes of Florence Omagbemi, Ann Chiejine, Yinka Kudaisi, Martha Tarhemba, Adanna Nwaneri, Eberechi Opara, Kikelomo Ajayi, Stella Mbachu, Rita Nwadike.
Gloria Usieta, Marvis Ogun, Prisca Emeafu, Judith Chime, Nkiru Okosieme, Maureen Mmadu, Florence Iweta, Nkechi Egbe, Patience Avre, Mercy Akide and late Ifeanyi Chiejine.
On that fateful day, Brazil led 3-0 in the quater-final but the Nigerian ladies fought back to 3-3 regulation time score.
On the scoresheet, Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe the scorers for the Falcons who would later bow out following a golden goal scored by the Brazillians in the 104th minute to bow out 3-4.
24-years later, that feat remains the highest for Nigeria at the tournament.
In that tournament, the Super Falcons secured a 2-1 win over North Korea at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in their opening game, legendary forward Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike on the scoresheet to secure a first FIFA Women’s World Cup win.
The euphoria from that win will be crushed days later with a 1-7 loss to the USA in a game the Falcons drew first blood through Nkiru Okosieme in the 2nd minute.
Ismaila Mabo and the girls will recover from the loss to secure a 2-0 win over Denmark at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium near Washington DC, to claim second spot in group B and reach the quarter finals.
THE CHANGES
That edition had lesser challenges when compared to the 2023 edition that has 32 teams .
To equal that feat, Randy Waldrum and his ladies will go through the group stage, the round of 16 before reach the quarter finals.
TEASER
Can the current Super Falcons equal the quater-final feat by the 1999 set ?
