Norway favoured over debutantes Equatorial Guinea

Midfielder Ingvild Stensland of Norway, pictured in 2007

28 June 2011

Norway will have all the pressure on them as they open their 2011 Women’s World Cup campaign with a Group D clash against debutantes Equatorial Guinea here on Wednesday.

The 1995 world champions Norway have never failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, and the Scandinavians know they can ill afford a defeat to the 2008 African champions with the likes of Brazil and Australia still to come.

“We know that Equatorial Guinea are physically strong, but we need to begin the tournament with a win,” said Norwegian captain Ingvild Stensland.

Eli Landsem’s side come into the World Cup in form, having held two-time reigning champions Germany scoreless for 79 minutes before giving up three goals in three minutes in a 3-0 friendly loss in mid-June.

“We showed for long periods against Germany that we could match them. Admittedly they were a class above for the final 20 minutes, but the first 70 were very positive and we can go into the tournament with every confidence,” added Stensland.

Norway then last week upset title-contenders United States 3-1 in a friendly in Austria.

Besides four semi-final showings in five tournaments, the Norwegians also have two proven winners in the ranks as both Stensland and Isabell Lehn Herlovsen who won the UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Olympique Lyon.

“We have a proud history. I think we have a decent chance at the World Cup. Anything can happen, and I hope we’re within a shout of a medal. We could win gold, but everything would have to go our way for that to happen,” said midfielder Leni Larsen Kaurin.

Equatorial Guinea for their part have nothing to lose as the African nation plays their first ever World Cup match.

Coach Marcelo Frigerio’s team, who finished second in the 2010 African Championship to qualify for Germany, are still trying to get past the controversy of sisters Salimata and Bilguisa Simpore being kept off the team, because they are believed to be men.

Striker Salimata was also accused of having played for both Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast before.

Complaints for the African confederation to investigate the gender of the sisters were made by Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa and even Group D opponents Australia had also raised concerns about the Equatorial Guinea squad.

Forward Genoveva Anonma, who was also caught up in gender question row but remained on the squad as captain, said the team is nervous going into its first Cup and hope to use the experience to improve their career.

“It’s very emotional because most players want to be in the position we’re in right now,” said Anonma, who was top scorer at German club FF USV Jena last season and secured a move to Champions League finalists Turbine Potsdam.

“I came here to improve my game a bit because playing in Africa isn’t the same as playing in Europe,” said Anonma.

Six players on Frigerio’s team have no current club affiliation – behind only Canada’s 11 players. But there is talent from the nation of 650,000 people.

Forward Jade Boho scored three goals in five games in the qualifying tournament and six in nine caps for the National Nzalang.

Midfielders Dorine Chuigoue and Gloria Chinasa are also scoring threats for the Africans. Expectations nonetheless are low for Equatorial Guinea, which could be perfect to upset Norway.

©2011 AFP