Nigeria qualified for the World Cup for the third time in their history after they drew 0-0 against Ireland in their final Group B match on Monday, with the African nation moving up to second and one n Australian fish. Nigeria started the game on a high note and just missed out on a win to reach the last 16, despite results in another Group B match in Melbourne where Australia beat Canada 4-0 to advance to the Africans. Nigeria will have to wait until Tuesday to find out who their last 16 opponents will be next week in Brisbane, but they are likely to face European champions England, the favorites in Group D. "I don't think anyone before we came here, believed that we could get out of this group without a win," said Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum. "So I'm happy with them and their efforts and happy for them that they're having this experience" The two teams play with their shirts to avoid a completely green conflict. But Brisbane's Lang Park was a sea of green and stands, with plenty of support for Ireland despite the late withdrawal. As Ireland captain Katie McCabe opened the scoring early, Nigeria closed the gap in the first half through striker Asisat Oshoala after a miscued clearance by Louise Quinn.
Oshoala was the only keeper to beat Oshoala on goal, but the Barcelona international shot wide to give Ireland a nerve. Save on time Seven minutes into the second half, Uchenna Kanu rose above the Irish defense and headed in goal, but Courtney Brosnan made a timely save to deflect the ball over the crossbar and exit safely. "It was an incredible ball in the box, one of those insults that I thought could come in the last minute. I prepared and knew I had to make a special stop at the line, so I threw my body," said Brosnan. "I want to keep us in it. I know we deserved something from today, so I'm happy about that." Brosnan again scored an assist for Ireland when Nigeria tried to defend in a clever move before the Everton keeper raced off his line to clear the ball. As the Irish return home after claiming their first World Cup points, Nigeria will be looking to improve on their quarter-final run since 1999. "We knew it was going to be one loss, we knew it was going to be tough," midfielder Toni Payne said. "If we play the way we play, if we do well in every game, I think we can reach the final."
"I don't think anybody, before we got here, believed that we could get out of this group and go through it without losing a match," Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said. "So I'm so proud of them and the effort they put in and so happy for them that they're getting to experience this." "It was an unbelievable ball into the box, one of those teasing ones I thought I could come at the last second. I dropped back and I knew I needed to make a special save on the line, so I just kind of threw my body out," said Brosnan.
"I wanted to keep us in it. I knew we deserved something from today, so I'm really happy with that." Brosnan came to Ireland's rescue again when Nigeria attempted to break through the defence with a clever set-piece routine before the Everton keeper rushed off her line to snatch the ball. While debutants Ireland go home having earned their first ever point at the World Cup, Nigeria will be looking to better their quarter-final run from 1999. "We knew this was going to be the group of death, we knew it was going to be hard," midfielder Toni Payne said. "If we play like how we're playing, if we improve on each game, I think we can go all the way to the final."
