Undoubtedly, both countries are the undisputed giants of their continents, going by their achievements and will face each other looking to make a winning start to their campaign.

While the Super Falcons have dominated African women’s football, winning 11 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, the Seleção have won the Copa América eight of the nine times the tournament has held, making them the undisputed giants of South American football.

Today’s encounter will be the third time both sides will be squaring off, with the Female Canaries claiming victories in their two previous encounters.

The first encounter was at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, where Brazil won 4-3 after extra time in the quarterfinals, taking a 3-0 lead before after only 35 minutes before Nigeria fought back bravely in the second half to restore parity. The South Americans found the winner in the 104th minute of play.

The second meeting at the Beijing 2008 Olympics was not as close. Nigeria took the lead courtesy of a perpetual Nkwocha penalty, but forward Cristiane smashed a brilliant hat-trick for Brazil to condemn the Falcons to a 3-1 defeat.

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