After an encouraging 1-1 draw against world number 14 side Iceland on Saturday, the Ford Football Ferns will be hoping to go one better against Nigeria tonight in Turkey.

Ford Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková was pleased with how the team stepped up against Iceland, and is confident the team will put in a similar effort against Nigeria.

“We can have positive performances and we can have positive results and that's how we want to approach the future. We really want to just focus on things that we can control, and it was great to see that our focus was a hundred percent on our connection on the field, and our courageousness on the ball.”

She notes that Nigeria will offer a different kind of challenge to Iceland.

“We haven’t yet played an African team, so it's good for us to have diversity of opposition.

“We know that they are very athletic, they are very physical, they are very unpredictable, but we will be focusing again on us. [Tonight, again,] we will be focusing on our performances and our fundamentals.”

Ahead of the game left back Michaela Foster reflected a strong first start for the Ferns against Iceland, which saw her notch up the assist for Hannah Wilkinson’s equaliser.

“It's a special feeling. Assisting at any level is something that I love to do, but to do it on that stage and for Wilky [Hannah Wilkinson] to get her head on it and finish it like she did was really impressive. That was my job on the day and, it obviously worked out and it was pretty cool to celebrate that moment with the team.”

Squad news

Midfielder Liv Chance has been ruled out against Nigeria following her knee injury on Saturday.

Nigeria in brief

Beat Haiti 2-1 on Saturday, with goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala.

Maintained their 100% record of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup when they sealed their spot at this year’s tournament after making the semi finals of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Star forward Asisat Oshoala is a five-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year and last year become the first female African footballer to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

How to watch

Wednesday 12 April, 1am (NZT), Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey. Watch live on Sky Sport

Article added: Tuesday 11 April 2023