Nigeria ladies celebrating after scoring second goal; Image: Skysports
Nigeria came from behind to beat Australia and leave the co-hosts facing a battle to qualify for the last 16 of the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Australia scored first when Emily van Egmond converted Caitlin Foord’s pass.
But Nigeria equalized soon afterwards with Uchenna Kanu’s calm finish, before Osinachi Ohale’s header made it 2-1.
Asisat Oshoala scored after a mix-up between Australia’s Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold and Nigeria held on, despite Kennedy scoring late on.
Nigeria move top of Group B, level with Canada on four points, while Australia are a point behind both before the last matches in the section on Monday.
The co-hosts now face an uphill battle to qualify from Group B, with both Nigeria and Canada in pole position to progress – both locked on four points at the top of the standings.
The Aussies, still without captain and lead goalscorer Sam Kerr, lacked any real conviction in front of goal, having failed to capitalise on Emily van Egmond’s well-taken opener – which was immediately cancelled out by a leveller from Uchenna Kanu in first-half sto