Nigeria’s Falconets open their campaign in the eighth FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea today against their counterparts from Japan in a group B clash billed for the Bava Park Stadium, Port Moresby by 7pm local time (10am Nigeria time).
The other Nigeria’s group opponents are Spain and Canada.
It will be recalled that Nigeria having lost 0-2 in the final of the 2010 edition to hosts, Germany, also lost in the 2014 edition also to Germany, 0-1 where Asisat Oshoala clinched the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and also emerged the tournament’s Goal Queen with seven goals.
The Peter Dedevbo girls are battle-ready for the competition as they trained on Friday evening under floodlights at the Bava Park Stadium to have a feel of the turf.
The Falconets were also at home with the weather in their match venue, Port Moresby according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“Among themselves, the girls have continued to talk about the weather that they have unanimously agreed is equivalent to the one back home in Nigeria.
“One of the players, Ogechi Ukwuoma, on Thursday morning exclaimed that she now appreciated better Coach Peter Dedevbo’s training schedule while in camp in Abuja.
“I now understand why the coach always insisted that we train earlier in the afternoon in Nigeria. The weather here is comparable to the one we had in Abuja,” NFF’s spokesman, Ademola Olajire said in a statement.
Captain of the Flamingoes to the just-ended FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, Rasheedat Ajibade and team-mate, Aminat Yakubu made the team to Papua New Guinea as they join Chiwendu Ihezuo and Charity Reuben in the attack.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in Papua New Guinea has mobilised support for the Falconets ahead of their group opener against Japan.
The Nigerians in Papua New Guinea offered prayers for the players and the officials of the Falconets in Port Moresby as they seek their first triumph in the global championship which began in 2002.
Nigeria will be meeting Japan at this level for the fourth time after a win, draw and loss but the Japanese lead on goals having scored eight as against Nigeria’s four.
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