July 21, (THEWILL) – Canada’s coach, Bev Priestman, remained supportive of captain, Christine Sinclair, after their Women’s World Cup opener against Nigeria ended in a goalless draw.
Priestman acknowledged Sinclair’s missed penalty, but praised her remarkable goal-scoring record for the country. “Christine Sinclair scored many, many, many goals for this country, and I’m sure the fans, the team, and everyone can forgive missing a penalty kick,” she told reporters. Priestman’s focus now is on rallying the team for their upcoming matches.
The 0-0 draw saw Sinclair miss a chance to become the first player to score at six World Cups when her second-half penalty was saved by Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie. Reflecting on her save, Nnadozie said she was determined to make amends for a previous encounter where Sinclair had scored against her. “I was very angry. And I told myself this is the opportunity to make things right. So it’s 1-1 for me and Sinclair,” the 22-year-old goalkeeper said. Nnadozie’s heroics denied Canada a victory and earned Nigeria a valuable point in Group B.
Despite the missed penalty, Sinclair’s legacy as a football icon remains intact. With 190 goals in her illustrious career, she has been an invaluable asset for Canada. Priestman pointed out that the team’s unwavering support for their captain, asserting that Sinclair’s high standards and perfectionism are part of her greatness. Canada’s focus now shifts to their next match against Ireland, with the team aiming to regroup and secure a win in the highly competitive tournament.
The Super Falcons also will need to restrategise agree of their next group stage match against tournament co-hosts Australia, who prevailed 1-0 over Ireland on the opening day and lead the group after the first round of matches.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
