Two-time silver medallists, Nigeria lost by the odd goal to Mexico in an entertaining encounter in Bogota on Monday evening, which served as their final test before the 11th FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup finals kicking off on Saturday.
The Mexicans scored the only goal of the match in the 20th minute but had to withstand onslaught after onslaught of attacks from the Nigeria side on the turf of the Club Banco de la República.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who attended the match alongside Chairman of the Technical and Development Sub-Committee Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and Head of Women’s Football Amina Daura, praised the Falconets for their impressive display and charged them to be encouraged by the good showing and their victory over Australia in another friendly on Friday last week, as they countenance the global finals.
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Nigeria will take on Korea Republic in their first match of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup finals at the 10,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota on 2nd September – the same venue where they will confront three-time champions Germany two days later. Their final match of the group phase is against Venezuela at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali on 7th September.
Danjuma’s squad from the qualifiers was boosted by the presence of several players who have seen action with the Nigeria senior team, Super Falcons, including defenders Jumoke Alani, Rofiat Imuran, Comfort Folorunsho and forwards Opeyemi Ajakaye, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu and Flourish Sabastine.
NIGERIA’S SQUAD FOR FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP COLOMBIA 2024:
Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Shukura Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Unattached); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels)
Midfielders: Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Olushola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Joy Igbokwe (Naija Ratels); Shakirat Oyinlola (La Liga Academy, Spain)
Forwards: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Mary Nkpa (Heartland Queens); Chiamaka Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Oshoala Academy); Flourish Sabastine (Stade de Reims, France); Aminat Bello (Otero College, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (Madrid CFF, Spain)
