Nigeria advanced to the Women’s World Cup knockout stages for the third time in their history after a 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland in their final Group B match on Monday.
Having started the game top of the standings they only needed to avoid defeat to reach the last-16, and did so as runners-up after Australia dismantled Canada 4-0.
Nigeria will have to wait until Tuesday to discover who their last-16 opponents will be next week in Brisbane, but they are likely to play European champions England who are favourites to top Group D.
“I don't think anybody, before we got here, believed that we could get out of this group and go through it without losing a match,” Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said.
“So I'm so proud of them and the effort they put in and so happy for them that they're getting to experience this.”
Hayley Raso scored a first half brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break as Australia crushed Canada to send the Olympic champions spinning out of the tournament.
In front of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Raso struck in the ninth minute with a low, right-footed shot and netted again from a goalmouth scramble as unused captain Sam Kerr cheered by the touchline.
Fowler made sure of the win with a deft touch in the 58th minute that pinged in off the right post, before Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts' advance.
“It means so much to us,” Raso told Channel 7. “I'm so proud of the girls. We put in a real shift tonight and everybody fought for each other and to come away with a pretty convincing win is very exciting.
“We had our backs against the walls after (the) last game and we knew that we needed to come out and put in a big performance. We knew we needed to win, we wanted to top the group. We showed that never-say-die attitude and we gave it all tonight.”
Canada bowed out at the group stage for the first time since 2011 and with some regret after having needed only a draw to advance.
In Group C, Spain coach Jorge Vilda admitted his side were hurting after their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Japan in their final group match.
#JPN add a fourth... 𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 💥
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 31, 2023
Mina Tanaka with quite possibly the most emphatic finish you'll see at the #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/cgRdezeCxC
Spain came into the match as one of the tournament favourites after dominant wins in their two previous games but departed the Wellington Regional Stadium chastened after being outplayed by the 2011 champions.
“This defeats really hurt," said Vilda. “This is the worst defeat that the national team has had while I've been the coach. They are also affected by this defeat. It hurts. They are angry.”
Spain finished second and will play Switzerland in the last-16 with Japan to take on Norway this weekend.
In the other Group C game, Zambia claimed a first-ever Women’s World Cup win by defeating Costa Rica 3-1 with both sides already knocked out.
