Ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Japan, Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma expressed his confidence in the team’s preparation and resilience.
Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, have returned to Bogota with a fierce determination to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, sports247 reports.
“The girls have worked very hard to get to this stage, and we are proud of their efforts,” Danjuma stated on Wednesday night upon their return to the capital. “We will be taking the knockout stages one match at a time. I must tell you that we are excited at the prospects of facing Japan and what that brings forth.”
The Falconets reached the knockout stage with a blend of grit and tactical brilliance. They narrowly edged out Korea Republic 1-0 in their opening match, suffered a setback against Germany in a 1-3 loss, and then emphatically bounced back with a 4-0 win over Venezuela. Now, they face a daunting task against Japan, one of the powerhouses in women’s football.
Japan topped Group E after victories over Ghana and Austria, with a final group match against New Zealand sealing their first-place finish. Despite the formidable challenge, Coach Danjuma remains optimistic about his side’s chances.
“We know Japan is a strong team; they’ve shown their quality throughout the tournament. But our team is focused, and we’ve worked on areas that can give us the edge. It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re ready.”
The Falconets will play Japan at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, where they played their first two group-stage matches. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 a.m. Nigerian time on Friday, 13th September. As Africa’s biggest hope in the tournament, all eyes are on the Falconets to continue their journey and potentially make a historic podium appearance.
