WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Falconets intensify training ahead clash with Burundi on Sunday –
Nigeria’s U20 girls have intensified their general preparations for Sunday’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round, first leg encounter against the U20 girls of Burundi, with another training session in Dar es Salaam on Friday afternoon.
Sunday’s match at the Azam Stadium Complex in the Tanzanian capital will kick off at 4pm Tanzania time (2pm Nigeria time), with the winner over two legs qualifying as one of Africa’s four flag-bearers at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia. The final tournament has been scheduled for 30th August – 22nd September.
The Falconets, ever-present at the finals since the competition was launched in Canada in 2002, reached the quarter-finalists at the last edition in Costa Rica, and are much-fancied to brush aside the Burundian challenge and pick another World Cup ticket.
Nigeria’s delegation arrived in Dar es Salaam – which is hosting the match as Burundi does not have an approved stadium for international games – on Wednesday and players immediately shook off the jet lag with a light training session. They also trained on Thursday.
The team is looking forward to Saturday’s official training at the match venue – the same venue where they drew 1-1 with Tanzania’s U20 girls in their last round of the qualifiers, before sealing qualification to this stage with a 2-1 defeat of the Tanzanian girls in Abuja in the return leg.
Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma and his crew travelled with 19 players, led by Captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, and also including goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defenders Jumoke Alani and Shukurat Oladipo, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi and Chima Olise, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Opeyemi Ajakaye and Janet Akekoromowei.
FALCONETS IN BURUNDI
Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi; Shukura Bakare; Faith Omilana
Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem; Jumoke Alani; Rebecca Adegbemile; Shukurat Oladipo; Oluwabunmi Oladeji
Midfielders: Adoo Yina; Taiwo Afolabi; Olushola Shobowale; Aminat Folorunsho; Chioma Olise
Forwards: Opeyemi Ajakaye; Chiamaka Okwuchukwu; Chisom Chima; Janet Akekoromowei; Chiamaka Osuigwe; Oluwayemisi Samuel
Japan survived a late scare against Nigeria to set up a re-match of the 2022 final with Spain in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
In rainy Bogota, Miyu Matsunaga’s free header just after the half hour was enough to send Japan to the break with a lead, as they have done at every match at Colombia 2024.
Maya Hijikata then doubled the advantage midway through the second term, tucking home a cross from substitute Chinari Sasai at the back post; that goal taking her joint-top of the adidas Golden Boot race with Brazil’s Vendito.
Olushola Shobowale did manage to pull one back for Nigeria in stoppage time but they couldn’t find a second as Japan hung on to close out the 2-1 win and set up that epic quarter-final clash with Spain. It is a re-match of the final match of the last edition in Costa Rica two years ago.
Africa’s biggest hope for podium appearance at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals, Nigeria, have returned to the Colombia capital, Bogota, ahead of Friday morning’s Round of 16 clash with Japan.
Japan, one of the strongest forces in women’s football globally, topped Group E that also included Austria, New Zealand and one of Africa’s flag-bearers Ghana. Ghana crashed out of the tournament after losing to Japan and Austria, and a narrow win over New Zealand.
The Falconets reached the Round of 16 after pipping Korea Republic 1-0 and losing 1-3 to Germany, and then earning a fabulous 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.
“The girls have worked very hard to get to this stage, and we are proud of their efforts. 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,” Coach Chris Musa Danjuma said on his team’s return to the capital on Wednesday night.
The clash between Nigeria and Japan will hold at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota – where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against Korea Republic and Germany – starting from 2am Nigeria time (8pm, Thursday in Colombia) on Friday, 13th September.
Nigeria Super Falconets gave Nigerians additional joy after their 4-0 defeat of Venezuela in Cali, Colombia in their last group match. Their victory followed up with an earlier 3-0 win by the Super Eagles in their opening Group D match with Benin Republic in Uyo.
The Falconets’ win means they have qualified for the Round of 16 where they are most likely going to face Japan when the group games are completed on Sunday.
Both Nigeria and Germany tied on six points, but Germany have one goal better than Nigeria on goal difference.
The Super Falcons made early hays when Amina Bello put Nigeria ahead after 16 minutes. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu doubled the lead in the 28th minute before Flourish Sebastine put in the third five minutes into the added time of the first half. Joy Igbokwe put in the back breaker four minutes into the added time of the second hald.
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