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Head Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma still basking from his side’s 2-0 over Australia is confident that Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, will secure victory against their Mexican on Monday evening.
The game is set to take place on the turf of Club Banco de la República in Bogota.
Danjuma emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s winning momentum. “Our victory over Australia was a sweet one, but I’ve told the ladies to put it behind them and focus on Monday’s match,” Danjuma said. “We need another victory to keep our winning mentality intact. We won five of our six qualifying matches with strong scorelines, and now we’ve added a win against the Australians.”
Danjuma acknowledged the tough road ahead in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, where the Falconets will face formidable opponents, including Korea Republic and three-time champions Germany.
“The World Cup finals here will not be easy. We need to be at our best physically, mentally, and psychologically. I believe we’re in shape physically and mentally. A win against Mexico will give us the psychological edge we need going into the competition unbeaten,” he added.
The Falconets have been dominant in their African qualifying campaign, scoring 25 goals and conceding only two. They convincingly defeated Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Liberia, showcasing their attacking prowess. In their recent friendly, they edged out Australia 2-1 in regulation time before winning a penalty shootout.
Monday’s match against Mexico, a team that has missed only one edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002, is expected to provide a much stiffer challenge. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 PM local time in Colombia (9:30 PM Nigerian time).
Danjuma’s squad has been bolstered by the inclusion of players with experience in the senior national team, the Super Falcons, including defenders Jumoke Alani, Rofiat Imuran, and Comfort Folorunsho, as well as forwards Opeyemi Ajakaye, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, and Flourish Sabastine. These players, along with others from Nigeria’s U17 squad that finished third at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India two years ago, bring valuable experience to the Falconets’ lineup.
