Moses Aduku, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 Women National Team, Falconets, has declared that his team will throw everything into Monday’s opening match of Group F at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, in which they will confront Spain at the Stadion Sosnowiec.

Nigeria, two-time runners-up of the global championship that began as an U19 tournament in Canada in 2002, go up against the Spaniards from 5pm local time (4pm Nigeria time).

“We are looking forward to the match against Spain with high expectations. We are ready and set to go. Spain is a good wide no doubt; let us not forget they are champions of the world at men’s senior level. However, we will approach the game like a Cup final because we want to win. The three points will put us in good stead in our group phase campaign,” Aduku said.

Spain have made remarkable progress in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in the past eight years. Against all odds, they went all the way to the final in France in 2018, finishing as runners-up after a 3-1 defeat by Japan. However, Spain’s forward Patricia Guijarro won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe. Two years later, in Costa Rica, they were champions of the world, avenging their defeat to Japan four years earlier.

Nigeria’s Falconets have an almost-identical story. In 2010, the Falconets, against all odds, went all the way to the final, including enacting a famous penalty-shootout defeat of the United States of America in a dramatic semi final in Augsburg. A week later, after beating Colombia in the semi finals, the Falconets lost by two goals to hosts Germany in Bielefeld. However, it was the first time an African team would go that far in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Just as Spain’s Patricia Guijarro won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe awards in France in 2018, despite her team failing to lift the trophy, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala dominated the 2014 finals in Canada to the point of winning the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe. She scored seven amazing goals. But the Falconets lost by an odd goal to Germany after extra time in Montreal. 

On Monday, at the Stadion Sosnowiec, Aduku will send out his charges against the Spaniards with clear instructions to dominate and earn the three points, ahead of their other group phase games (against China and New Caledonia) on Thursday and Sunday respectively.

Author: Admin