Falconets head coach Christopher Danjuma says his team are excited about the prospect of facing Japan in the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia at Bogota lash on Friday.
Nigeria reached the stage after piping the Korea Republic 1-0, losing 3-1 to Germany, and then earning a comprehensive 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.
Japan, one of the strongest forces in women’s football globally, topped Group E, which also included Austria, New Zealand, and one of Africa’s flagbearers, Ghana, who crashed out of the tournament after losing to Japan and Austria and securing a narrow win over New Zealand.
Ahead of their meeting, Danjuma said, “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.”
After their last match in Cali, the Falconets have returned to the Colombian capital, Bogota, ahead of Friday morning’s clash.
Nigeria and Japan will face off at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against the Korea Republic and Germany, starting at 2 am Nigerian time on Friday, September 13 (8 pm, Thursday in Colombia).
The Falconets have been runners-up twice in the competition (2010 and 2014), agonisingly losing both to Germany.
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