Falconets battle Japan for quarterfinal ticket

Nigeria’s national women’s U-20 team, the Falconets, will, in the early hours of tomorrow, face their biggest test yet since they lost their second group game at the ongoing Colombia 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The threat comes from Japan, who have been devastating in their games since the competition kicked off.

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest hope for a podium appearance at the ongoing competition and a victory over Japan in the Round of 16 game in Bogota will further boost their march to the coveted prize.
 
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 flag-bearers Ghana.

Nigeria reached the round of 16 after pipping the Korean Republic 1-0 and losing 1-3 to Germany, and then earning a fabulous 4-0 win over Venezuela, in Cali.
Going into tomorrow’ game, Coach Chris Danjuma said his girls are in victory mode, although he acknowledged that Japan would not be an easy foe.

“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.”

The match will be held at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, in Bogota, where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against the Korean Republic and Germany.It will kick off at 2.00 a.m. Nigeria time (Friday morning), which is 8.00 p.m. in Colombia.