England v Nigeria – key battles that may decide World Cup last-16 match in Brisbane – BBC.com
Nigeria may need striker Asisat Oshoala (left) and midfielder Christy Ucheibe (second from right) to be at their brilliant best if they are to surprise an England team likely to contain Lauren James (right) and Millie bright (second from left)
England v Nigeria
Venue: Brisbane Stadium Date: Monday, 7 August, 08:30 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app (UK only). Groups & schedule – Full coverage details
England and Nigeria meet in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Monday in a game likely to hinge on key battles across the pitch at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Goalkeepers Mary Earps and Chiamaka Nnadozie have kept four clean sheets in their six combined appearances at the 2023 tournament, while the likes of Barcelona's two-time Champions League winner Asisat Oshoala and in-form Lauren James are targeting more goals.
BBC Sport Africa takes a look at which individual contests could prove pivotal.
The Super Falcons will be desperate for star striker Asisat Oshoala to score her second goal of the tournament and end an unwanted record of never netting more than once at a World Cup.
The five-time African Women's Footballer of the Year hit 26 goals in all competitions on her way to European glory and a fourth Spanish title with Barcelona last season, but she did not have a shot on target during Nigeria's goalless draws with Canada and the Republic of Ireland during the group stage.
In between, Africa's first and only female Ballon d'Or nominee made herself the first player from the continent to score at three finals with the third goal in her country's 3-2 win against co-hosts Australia.
After directing almost 44% of their work along the left during the first half against Australia, Nigeria tended to attack through the centre after the break and scored twice in eight minutes immediately following Asisat Oshoala's introduction as a substitute
The 28-year-old pounced on the chance to open her account from a tight angle following the kind of defensive mix-up that Bright is unlikely to afford her, although the England captain produced an uncharacteristically shaky performance as the Lionesses laboured to beat Haiti in their opener.
Bright, 29, returned from a four-month injury absence for the start of the tournament but the rustiness she continued to show against Denmark in England's second game was made more forgivable by her place at the centre of a defence that kept two-time European Women's Player of the Year Pernille Harder from scoring.
Bright's four interceptions in England's 6-1 thrashing of China were more than her total from her first two games combined, while her 145 successful passes against the former runners-up were the most on record for a player in a Women's World Cup match.
Bright was also involved in England's second goal, winning possession and driving forward before finding scorer James, and finished the game with a combined total of five more clearances and interceptions than any of her team-mates.
Oshoala's pace and finishing ability could show up any lingering shortcomings in Bright's athleticism and sharpness following her injury. But she failed to score from positions classed as big chances by analytics experts Opta against Canada and the Republic of Ireland.
Nigeria v England is '50/50' – ex-Super Falcons goalkeeper
Nigeria's Oshoala: 'I'm about my business'
Onome Ebi on 'unreal' sixth tournament
The former Liverpool and Arsenal forward surely cannot afford any more wastefulness against opponents who have conceded just once in open play in competitive games since winning the Euro 2022 final more than a year ago.
Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie (left) and Lioness Mary Earps both kept two clean sheets during the group stage
As they have done since the very start of their teams' campaigns, both goalkeepers may have to continue adding to their reputations.
Having become the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup in 2019, Nnadozie returned four years later at the relatively ancient age of 22 to captain her team against Olympic champions Canada in the Super Falcons' opening game.
The Paris FC goalkeeper kept out a penalty by a player 18 years her senior when she stopped Christine Sinclair scoring at a record sixth World Cup tournament, leading Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum to laud the player of the match and praise a save that he said "really lit the fire and made us realise there's still something to play for."
It means England cannot take scoring from the spot for granted against the player responsible for saving three successive penalties in a shootout against Cameroon in the 2019 African Games final.
Earps has more freedom to advance forward in a team that kept more than 70% of possession in all of their group games, taking a total of 20 touches outside of her penalty area to Nnadozie's seven.
In England's opener, against a Haiti team who had been deceptively wayward with their shooting, Earps produced two excellent saves to preserve three points. The 30-year-old subsequently called on England to raise their standards, but Nigeria's historic struggle to score means they are likely to be more dependent on their goalkeeper keeping a clean sheet.
This video can not be played
Women's World Cup 2023: Nigeria stun co-hosts Australia with comeback win – highlights
The African team's equaliser against Australia ended a wait of more than six hours for a goal at the finals and since the turn of the century they have gone without a goal in 14 of their 19 World Cup matches – only two of which have ended in victories.
Nnadozie's saves, then, are more likely to be crucial.
All-action Ucheibe could be key to limiting England's at-times irresistible flow through the centre of the pitch.
The Benfica midfielder has done most of her busy work from midway inside Nigeria's half, taking on 16 more duels than anyone else.
From 49 such challenges, the 22-year-old has won 11 more than any other Nigeria player, tending to stay closest to Sinclair in the opening match to snuff out the threat of Canada's dangerwoman.
Christy Ucheibe's heatmap shows her industry inside Nigeria's half during their win over Australia, when the midfielder put in seven of her side's 17 tackles and played the most passes by an individual to attackers Oshoala and Ifeoma Onumonu (3 each)
Ucheibe's total of 18 tackles is twice as many as any of her team-mates, and she is one of only four Nigeria players to have found a team-mate more than 20 times in opposition territory.
But in-form James will take some stopping and must be brimming with confidence. Against China, the 21-year-old scored twice and provided three assists as she became the youngest player on record to directly contribute to at least four goals during a single World Cup match, while her shot conversion rate currently sits at 60%.
England had the squad depth to start James on the bench against Haiti but she has been described as "very special" by coach Wiegman.
With 19-year-old Deborah Abiodun suspended for two games as a result of her dismissal against Canada, Nigeria have started Halimatu Ayinde in a defensive midfield pairing with Ucheibe.
Ayinde had by far the highest passing accuracy of any Nigeria player against Australia, while no player eclipsed the number of times she won possession against the Republic of Ireland.
Whether Ucheibe lines up alongside Ayinde or Abiodun, the Super Falcons' defensive midfielders will have to be at the top of their game to deal with James.
Alessia Russo (right) scored England's earliest goal of the finals in the fourth minute against China – and Nigeria defender Osinachi Ohale has also scored once at the tournament
Nigeria took the lead at the finals for the first time courtesy of centre-back Ohale's bravery, going ahead against Australia after the defender bundled the ball in while taking a boot to the ribs.
Several minutes of treatment followed for the 31-year-old, and her reward for helping her country through to the knockout stage is a likely tussle with new Arsenal signing Russo.
Ohale has been here before – starting Nigeria's 3-0 defeat to Germany in the last 16 in 2019 – and her aerial ability is one of her team's strengths in their quest for a first ever knockout stage win, underlined by the nine headed clearances she has made – four more than any other player who could take to the field in the last-16 tie.
Osinachi Ohale's total of 51 touches against the Republic of Ireland was 100 fewer than the average of England's three defenders – Jess Carter, Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood – against China
Part of Ohale and Nigeria's challenge will be judging where Russo is playing. The 24-year-old can act as something of a throwback centre-forward, with the physicality and poacher's instinct to match, but she spurned one big chance and did not score from six shots from inside the box against Haiti.
Things were different against China, when a deft fourth-minute strike ended Russo's wait of more than five months for an international goal.
Listen to Match of the Day Africa: Top 10
Another issue for Ohale is Russo's potential to drag her out of position and leave space for the likes of Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway to find space in dangerous areas.
Ohale has spent all but six minutes of the tournament in a central defensive partnership with 21-year-old Reims defender Oluwatosin Demehin. Should they continue together against England, the understanding they have formed is in for its sternest test yet.
Blur: Radio 2 in Concert: Enjoy a selection of classic songs and new tunes from the iconic band
Why would you want to avoid red ropes? Take a journey back to Ancient Greece to find out…
Can Ravens come back against Chiefs with Super Bowl place on line? – live text
'Hyderabad Heist shows England are unmissable'
Guinea edge past 10-man Equatorial Guinea at Afcon
What was it like to travel on the fastest plane?
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the supersonic story of the Concorde
Toxic love, ruthless ambition and shocking betrayal
Tell Me Lies follows a passionate college relationship with unimaginable consequences…
A star-studded episode from the archives…
Gillian Anderson, Paul O'Grady and Paul Whitehouse, with music from Madness
Watch award-winning films on BBC iPlayer
Check out the star-studded selection of films to watch on BBC iPlayer now
Pope's 196 'one of the great Test innings' – Agnew
'They were rattled, I was dreaming' – when Newport scared Man Utd
Sinner 'dances in pressure storm' to win first major
Neto scores brilliant solo goal as Wolves beat West Brom in derby. Video
Martins gives Watford lead with 'cheeky' free-kick. Video
Maidstone stun Ipswich to reach FA Cup fifth round. Video
Newcastle book fifth-round spot after Fulham victory. Video
James scores twice as Chelsea beat Brighton 3-0. Video
NFL heavyweights meet to fight for Super Bowl spot
'A brilliant heart-on-sleeve boss who has taken Reds on thrill ride'
'He's passionate through and through' – the making of Klopp. Video
Ake scores late winner as Man City knock out Spurs. Video
'Dream is on for Germany fans – but they must wait for Klopp'
Are Premier League clubs set for quiet January window?
Heavy metal snowboarding with GB star Brookes. Video
Guardiola documentary a study in football idealism
'Frozen eyes, frozen toes' – the brutal race that may never return
Pick your England XV for the Six Nations
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
