Ahead of their clash with home girls, Matildas of co-host nation Australia on Thursday, team captain Onome Ebi said that a five-match unbeaten streak and winning mentality would be one of the key factors to stand the girls from Nigeria in good stead.
Come the day, the Super Falcons dazzled and eventually edged their opponents 3-2 at the Lang Park, to put a firm foot in the knockout rounds.
Now the only African team to have played in all previous editions of the competition is on a six-match unbeaten streak going back to their 1-0 defeat of Costa Rica in the Revelation Cup Tournament in Mexico five months ago.
After defeating the Costa Ricans, the nine-time African champions edged Haiti 2-1 in a friendly in Antalya, Turkey in April, and a few days later, spanked World Cup co-hosts New Zealand 3-0 also in Antalya.
In the course of their final training camp in Gold Coast, just before the World Cup, the Falcons whipped Lions FC 8-1.
At the World Cup, Nigeria drew 0-0 with Canada in Melbourne and defeated Australia 3-2 in Brisbane.
