FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia vs Nigeria Betting Preview
Australia Lead Group B
Co-Hosts Take on Super Falcons
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is underway. With the second batch of group stage matches upcoming, co-hosts Australia take on Nigeria. With a win here, the Matildas will seal qualification to the knockout stage for a fifth straight World Cup. Nigeria managed a draw vs. Canada and a result will keep the round of 16 hopes alive. We’ll look at the odds for this Group B match in our Australia vs. Nigeria betting preview.
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Australia vs. Nigeria
Date, time:
Location: Suncorp Stadium, Milton, Australia
Head-to-Head
Australia and Nigeria have met once before on their World Cup schedules. In 2015, Kyah Simon scored twice as Australia won a group stage meeting. This is just the second-ever meeting between the sides in all competitions.
Australia Win Without Kerr
- FIFA Women’s World Ranking: 10
- Last Match: 1-0 W vs. Republic of Ireland
- Next Match: July 31st vs. Canada
Just two hours before Australia took on Republic of Ireland, star Matildas striker Sam Kerr announced she had picked up a calf injury. Kerr missed the match vs. Republic of Ireland and will be out here vs. Nigeria. The Matildas’ captain is their all-time leading scorer, and she also led England’s Super League in scoring from 2020-2022. With Kerr, soccer predictions give Australia a decent shot to make a run.
Without her, Australia just need to stay afloat and did just that vs. Republic of Ireland. The Matildas failed to score in open play but Stephanie Catley converted on a penalty for the game’s only goal. It was the first time Australia won their Women’s World Cup opener since a 4-1 win over Ghana in 2007. The Matildas dominated possession and conceded just one shot on target.
Our Australia vs. Nigeria betting preview notes that Australia have never won their first two matches at a Women’s World Cup. If they can take care of business here, they’ll go into the third matchday with only seeding to play for. So, Tony Gustavsson will want his players to grab all three points here so he can ease Kerr back into action vs. Canada.
Nigeria Keep Shutout vs. Canada
- FIFA Women’s World Ranking: 40
- Last Match: 0-0 D vs. Canada
- Next Match: July 31st vs. Republic of Ireland
Nigeria won their last three matches in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Regardless, the Super Falcons entered their opener vs. Canada as 1.5-goal underdogs. In what was one of the more surprising World Cup scores so far, Nigeria held Canada to a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie came up huge as she saved Christine Sinclair’s second half penalty.
The one blemish on Nigeria’s performance was that 19-year old midfielder Deborah Ajibola Abiodun picked up a late red card for a rash challenge. She’ll miss the match vs. Australia and her toughness and defense will be hard to replace. Abiodun drew comparisons to N’Golo Kante for her display vs. Canada.
At the Women’s World Cup, Nigeria have never avoided defeat in consecutive matches. They made the round of 16 at the 2019 World Cup, their first knockout stage appearance since 1999. Nigeria have never made two knockout stages in a row, but a win here could be crucial.
Match Analysis & Odds
Australia have won their last three matches vs. African opponents at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Again, our Australia vs. Nigeria betting preview notes that this is just the second meeting between the two sides. Kyah Simon, who was on the bench for Australia’s win vs. Republic of Ireland, is the only player to score in this fixture.
With the home crowd behind them, the Matildas are one-goal favorites for this match just outside of Brisbane. Australia show -150 odds to cover as Nigeria +1 displays +120 odds. Australia also come in at -250 odds to win the match, which would mean the co-hosts advance to the round of 16.
Nigeria would not be eliminated with a loss but their route to the knockout stage becomes much more complicated. The Super Falcons are +700 moneyline underdogs and did win their only match vs. AFC competition at the 2019 World Cup. A draw shows +300 odds but the Matildas will be disappointed with anything less than three points. Both teams are going for their first open play goals of the tournament here and under 2.5 goals are priced at -140 odds.
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