Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015 Nigeria’s Super Falcons aim to break new ground ABUJA: After winning nine of the Toronto for two weeks before the start they have failed to go past the group even better at this World Cup.” The eleven African championships so far, of the tournament on June 6. stage of the competition. The Nigerian current team are a blend of young and been to every World Cup since 1991, They have been promised a hefty women hope they get past a tough exciting talent like Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria are finally hoping to bring the bonus of $400,000 (363,000 euros) if first round group in Canada that Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega World Cup trophy to Africa for the first they reach the final. Last year, the includes two-time winners the United alongside experienced campaigners time. The reigning African champions’ Nigeria women’s team-better known as States, Sweden and Australia. such as Dede, Perpetua Nkwocha, best performance in their six previous the Super Falcons-kept their record of “I am confident that we will do well Onome Ebi and Stella Mbachu. appearances at the global tournament appearing at every women’s World at the World Cup,” said goalkeeper Oshoala, who plays for English club was achieved at the 1999 edition, Cup by winning a ninth African Precious Dede. “We have a collection Liverpool, is the Falcons’ main star after when they reached the quarter-finals. Women’s Championship in Namibia. of young players who are doing very she established herself at full interna- The team, trained by local coach Edwin The Falcons have dominated the well presently and with experience tional level when she was named the Okon from the country’s dominant African scene but besides reaching the from some of us, I am sure we can sur- best player at the African Women’s Rivers Angels, have prepared in last eight of the World Cup in 1999, pass our previous outings by doing Championship. —AFP Women’s WCup - the chance for defeat can draw viewers NEW YORK: Just in case any American fans forgot, Women’s World Cup broadcaster Fox would like to remind them that the US failed to win the last tournament four years ago - and the two before that. The United States’ status as a favorite in the upcoming World Cup creates the poten- tial for huge audiences if the team advances deep, and network execu- tives are candid about their hopes for a long run by the Americans. But what can really lure viewers, especially early on, is the opposite: the possibility the US could lose. David Neal, Fox’s executive producer for World Cup coverage, likes to tell this story from his days producing the Olympics at NBC. Before the 2008 Beijing Games, Michael Phelps’ pursuit of a record-breaking eight gold medals drew plenty of attention. But what greatly spiked interest was his second event, when his U.S. relay team had to come from behind for a narrow victory. “The perception was that Michael was so dominant that it wasn’t a competition but a corona- tion,” Neal recalled. The close call in the relay, he added, “sent a message to American viewers that this isn’t a done deal.” So it’s no coincidence that in promot- ing the World Cup, which opens Saturday, Fox keeps pointing out that “America has a score to settle.” Expect plenty of images of the 2011 final, when the US twice blew late leads before falling to Japan on penalty kicks. And expect plenty of mentions of how the Americans haven’t won the title since they hosted the 1999 tournament, when Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and the rest of the star-studded roster made the women’s team so popular in this country. “It’s the hero who is knocked down and denied that ultimate prize,” said Robert Gottlieb, Fox Sports’ executive vice presi- dent for marketing. In the case of the Americans’ draw at this World Cup, the specter of defeat isn’t just hype. The second-ranked US is in the so- called “Group of Death” that also includes No 5 Sweden and No 10 Australia. Only two squads are guaranteed to advance. “We’re instilling NEW PLYMOUTH: Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus (right) and Hungary’s Mate Vida contest for the ball during their U20 the idea in our audience that this is not a sure thing,” Neal said. Sixteen of soccer World Cup match in New Plymouth, New Zealand yesterday. —AP the tournament’s 52 matches will air on the main Fox network, with five of those in prime time thanks to the favorable time zones in Canada. That’s the most games ever on traditional broadcast television in a single Germany, Brazil cruise through men’s or women’s World Cup. ESPN, which previously owned the US English-language World Cup Fiji cause massive upset with 3-0 win over Honduras rights, puts most of its top events on the cable channel, not partner ABC. No Women’s World Cup matches aired on ABC during the last two tour- WELLINGTON: Fiji caused a massive upset in the under-20 They extended their lead with a third right on the brink of naments. Even as it looks to boost its own fledgling cable offering, Fox World Cup yesterday with a 3-0 win over Honduras, arguably half time when an Atonio Tuivuna header from a corner was Sports 1, Fox has stuck to its philosophy of keeping many of the biggest doing more for the fortunes of Oceania soccer than any other deflected by Honduras defender Kevin Alvarez past Cristian games on the main network. As more and more major sports events team from the collection of 11 South Pacific nations. The Hernandez to give the Fijians a 3-0 lead at the break. migrate to cable, audiences have been healthy for the most appealing Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is FIFA’s weakest with Honduras, who had beaten Uzbekistan 4-3 in their opening matchups - with many viewers no longer making a distinction between nine of their nations in the bottom 25 of FIFA’s rankings. encounter, did everything but score in the second half, and an ABC and an ESPN broadcast anyway. Australia went to two World Cup finals as Oceania champions were denied several times by the post and some superb saves But Fox executives are confident that the traditional broadcast net- before they joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 from close range by Misiwani Nairube. “Our boys have realized work still wields power, especially with an event such as the Women’s while New Zealand have also been to two World Cups. While that they can play at this level and that they do deserve to be World Cup that is looking to draw in new fans. “The difference between a Oceania club champions Auckland City have performed credi- here,” Farina told a media conference in Christchurch. “This is moderate success and a hit is bringing in viewers with very little basic bly at Club World Cups, finishing third last year, no national a wonderful position for us to be in and we have everything to knowledge or no knowledge at all,” Neal said. —AP side from the far-flung region have truly made their mark on play for. The games are also valuable live programming for Fox’s lineup at a world soccer. “We have nothing to lose and we will fight to go through as time of year when many top series are on hiatus. And FS1 will hardly be With a population of just 900,000 Fiji are more well known we improve from each game and learn from this incredible lacking for opportunities to bring in new viewers. It has 29 matches, for the exploits of their rugby sevens side and are appearing in experience.” In New Plymouth, Brazil qualified for the round of including the US opener against Australia on Monday night, all round-of- their first FIFA tournament of any kind. Even then, their qualifi- 16 after they were forced to battle against a 10-man Hungary 16 games, two quarterfinals and a semifinal. The 1999 Women’s World cation was made easier because Oceania’s top-ranked nation before a goal to captain Danilo and an 86th minute penalty by Cup final remains the highest-rated soccer game on US English-language New Zealand are the tournament hosts. Fiji were hammered 8- Andreas Pereira gave them a 2-1 victory in their Group E clash. TV - better than any from the hugely successful men’s World Cup last year 1 by world soccer heavyweights Germany in their opening Hungary’s Bence Mervo had given his side a 1-0 advantage in that illustrated the sport’s surging popularity here. Just one game from game in Christchurch on Monday but on Thursday, Frank the ninth minute before left back Krisztian Tamas was booked Brazil was in US prime time; half of the matches will be this year, including Farina’s side looked far from the team that had appeared in the 12th and again four minutes later by referee Fahad Al all of the Americans’ group-stage games, the semifinals and the final. pleased to have just scored their first goal at a World Cup. Mirdasi and sent off. Germany also advanced to the knockout “June is a great opportunity to kind of take over the sports world,” said Bill First-half goals within five minutes of each other from Ratu phase from Group F with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in the late Wanger, Fox Sports’ executive vice president of programming.