Tag: Falconets

Africa’s biggest hope for podium appearance at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals, Nigeria, have returned to the Colombia capital, Bogota, ahead of Friday morning’s Round of 16 clash with Japan.

Japan, one of the strongest forces in women’s football globally, topped Group E that also included Austria, New Zealand and one of Africa’s flag-bearers Ghana. Ghana crashed out of the tournament after losing to Japan and Austria, and a narrow win over New Zealand.

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The Falconets reached the Round of 16 after pipping Korea Republic 1-0 and losing 1-3 to Germany, and then earning a fabulous 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.

 “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,” Coach Chris Musa Danjuma said on his team’s return to the capital on Wednesday night.

The clash between Nigeria and Japan will hold at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota – where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against Korea Republic and Germany – starting from 2am Nigeria time (8pm, Thursday in Colombia) on Friday, 13th  September.

Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, have now fully recovered from their long trip to Colombia and are now set to confront their counterparts from Australia, in the first of two friendly matches organized by the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure team readiness for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in that country, 31st August – 22nd September.

Coach Chris Danjuma and his crew, which now includes fitness trainer Chima Michael, have been taking the Falconets on drills since Monday, in preparation for the clash with the Aussies on Friday in particular, and for the World Cup finals generally.

The clash with the girls from Down Under has been scheduled for 10am Colombia time (4pm Nigeria time) on Friday, at the Club Banco de la República in Bogota. NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon has assured thenff.com that all arrangements have been concluded for the encounter.

Danjuma’s squad from the qualifiers is now boosted by the presence of a number of 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.

Read Also: Colombia 2024: Falconets off to Bogota for final camping

Folorunsho and Ajakaye were in the Nigeria U17 squad that finished in third place at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India two years ago. Other members of that squad also with the Falconets in Colombia are goalkeeper Faith Omilana and forward Aminat Omowunmi Bello.

While the above-named players constitute the spine of the team, exciting talents like defender Shukurat Oladipo, Chioma Olise, captain Oluchi Ohaegbulam and forward Juliet Akekoromowei provide the basis for high expectations.

The Falconets will tackle Mexico in another friendly match at the same venue on Monday.

Falconets  for 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)

Falconets star Olamide Oyinlola says she is poised to give her all to ensure the Falconets flourish in the upcoming FIFA U20 Women World Cup in Colombia.

Oyinlola played significant role in the team throughout the qualifiers and now that the team has landed in Colombia, she said she’s happy to be in the World Cup squad and would be ready to give everything she has for her fatherland. 

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” I am honoured and thrilled to be part of the squad for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2024 in Colombia,” Oyinlola wrote on her social media handle. “I’m ready to give everything for my country.” 

Nigeria is placed in Group D alongside former champions Germany, Venezuela and Korea Republic. 

Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma has expressed confidence in his Nigeria U20 girls as the ever-present Falconets intensify preparations for this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Colombia between 31st  August  and 22nd  September.

The two-time silver medallists will contend with Germany, Venezuela and Korea Republic in Group D of the first tournament to welcome 24 teams, an increase from the 16 teams that featured at the last tournament in the Central American nation of Costa Rica, with their matches in the Colombian capital, Bogotá and Cali.

 “The girls have been working very hard, and I am delighted at the level of improvement I have seen in the squad. There is greater understanding and ambition to accomplish. At an individual level, they continue to grow and show their determination to excel with focus on the larger picture.

“We must be very ready from the first blast of the referee’s whistle in Colombia, as there will not be many minutes to make mistakes and adjust against Korea Republic and Germany. Those two games will be key to our progress to the knockout rounds. We also cannot afford to under-rate Venezuela – they went through the qualifying rounds. The import is that we must bring our ‘A’ game to the party in all three matches.”

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand superstar Salma Paralluelo of Spain, Brazil’s Marta, USA’s Megan Rapinoe and Nigeria’s perennial African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala are among women football stars to have graced the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

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Oshoala was the top scorer when the Falconets reached the final of the championship in Canada 10 years ago, losing narrowly to Germany.

With the field expanded to 24, Africa now has four flag-bearers (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana this time). Matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo. The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali are the other venues.

The 13th  African Games runners-up have won a string of friendly games in their ongoing first phase of final camping in Abuja, losing only to the Roma Academy U17 boys. They have had the upper hand against an FCT Selected side, Horvel U16 team and lately, Honey Badgers of Makurdi. They will fly out of the country in 17 days for a two-week final camping programme in Colombia, before their first match of the tournament against Korea Republic in Bogotá on the first day of September.

Other matches are against Germany (also inside the El Techo Stadium in Bogotá) on Wednesday, 4th September, and against Venezuela in Cali three days later.

Nigeria also reached the final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2010, losing to host nation Germany. Four years later, the Falconets made the semi-finals in Japan.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has  urged  players of Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, to be focused, attentive to the instructions of their coaches, work hard and embrace discipline to achieve success at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia.

Two-time runners-up Nigeria have come close but are yet to lift FIFA’s second most important trophy for the women’s game, but Gusau believes hard work, discipline and dedication can see the Falconets mount the winners’ podium this time around.

 “I am aware of our country’s pedigree in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Your predecessors have won the silver medal on two occasions and reached the semi-finals once. Now is the time for the ultimate.

 “I believe that with discipline, hard work, dedication, focus and prayers for mother luck in your matches, you can emerge triumphant. These are the qualities that are,” Gusau said as he spoke to the players after their morning training session at the NFF/FIFA Goal necessary for success. The NFF will continue to provide the support and encouragement that you need to excel Project on Monday.

The 2024 finals in Colombia will be the first to welcome 24 teams, with Africa supplying four (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana).

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Matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo. The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali are the other venues.

2022 quarter-finalists Nigeria have been drawn to play three-time winners Germany, Venezuela and Korea Republic in Group D of this year’s tournament.

The final competition, which will welcome 24 teams for the first time, will hold 31st August – 22nd September.

GROUP A: Colombia, Australia, Cameroon, Mexico

GROUP B: France, Canada, Brazil, Fiji

GROUP C: Spain, USA, Paraguay, Morocco

GROUP D: Germany, Venezuela, Nigeria, Korea Republic

GROUP E: Japan, New Zealand, Ghana, Austria

GROUP F: Korea DPR, Argentina, Costa Rica, The Netherlands

Falconets’ Head  Coach Chris Danjuma has affirmed that the national  U20 women’s team are  bracing  for a decent outing at the forthcoming FIFA  World Cup holding in Colombia between  August 31 and September 22.

Nigeria will be making  her 11^th appearance  at the tournament  and Danjuma  declared that the Falconets  must be ready to  the country  proud after finishing  twice as runners up in  2020 and 2014.

“ it’s really  the countdown to the World Cup and all the players are putting up their best  in training,”

“We decided to make it a wider pool  in order  to give chances to  everybody  because  we can  get some talented  new players because I could remember it was through one of these exercises  that we got  Gift Monday in 2018 and  Nigeria  is gifted really  with players like that at this level.”

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In Colombia, the Falconets are drawn in a tricky Group D that houses Germany, Venezuela and South Korea but Danjuma enthused that his priority  is to take one game at a time  and  navigate his path first  to a commendable finish.

“The target is  getting to at least the quarterfinals and when we get to the quarterfinals, we  push to the semifinals, and when we get to the semifinals then we can push forward;  it’s one push at a time, so realistically, we are giving ourselves the target to get to the semifinals,” explained Danjuma who doubles as the Head Coach  of Nasarawa Amazons

Speaking further, Danjuma noted  that  all the players are in high spirits with no injury worries so far as they  countdown to Colombia 2024, even as he  rallied  for the support of Nigerians  to a glorious finish  at the tournament.

 “ Nigerians has always supported the female team and these are young girls coming up,” he said. “Asides football,  some are schooling and some  are trading as such they need the support of every Nigerian.

“ I think  one way we can support them is by not criticising  them unnecessarily  and  even when you want to criticize a player, do it constructively, not one that will just demoralize them,” he added.  

The  Nigeria Football  Federation(NFF)  said it would ensure that the Falconets and the Flamingos have good plans for the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier with Liberia respectively.

The board approved a month camping exercise in Nigeria and an additional two weeks in Colombia- the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup host nation before the start of hostilities to ensure the Falconets have a good tournament.

The board also urged on the Flamingos to complete the job they started in Monrovia, Liberia today in Abuja in the return leg of the final round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Liberia and has mandated the Football House Secretariat to offer the necessary support to make the ladies at ease ahead of the game.

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“In order to ensure an impressive performance of the U20 Women National Team, Falconets, at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September, the Executive Committee mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to diligently and swiftly consider the programme submitted by the Head Coach for the team’s preparation. The Board approved a two-phase camping for the team, with a four-week camping in Nigeria to be followed by a two-week final camping programme in Colombia before the commencement of the tournament,” the NFF Executive Committee said.

“Impressed by the performance of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, so far in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualification series, the Executive Committee charged the Secretariat to ensure total readiness of the team for its final round, final leg encounter against their Liberian counterparts, scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 14^th  June 2024.”

FIFA holds draw in Bogota

Coach Chris Musa Danjuma has assured that the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets, have no fears as the draw ceremony for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals takes place in the Colombian capital, Bogotá  tomorrow (June 5).

 “We have no fear about any of the teams in the finals. Any team can be in our group. We know that to be the best, we have to beat the best,” said Danjuma, who took the team to the quarter-finals of the last edition in Costa Rica.

The 2024 finals in Colombia will be the first to welcome 24 teams, with Africa supplying four (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana). Matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo. The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali are the other venues.

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Wednesday’s draw will throw the 24 teams into six groups of four teams each, with the two top-placed teams in each group qualifying to a Round of 16, alongside the best four third-placed teams.

Germany and the USA are the biggest winners of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, with three triumphs each. Korea DPR are two-time winners, with Japan and Spain winning once each. Spain are the Cup holders. 

Already, the 24 finalists have been segregated into four pots thus:

Pot 1: Colombia, Spain, Japan, France, Korea DPR, Germany

Pot 2: Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Netherlands, New Zealand

Pot 3: Korea Republic, Ghana, Australia, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina

Pot 4: Austria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Fiji Islands, Morocco, Venezuela

President

The Falconets’ head coach, Christopher Danjuma, has asserted that it has not been an easy ride for his team despite picking another ticket to the final of the women’s football event of the ongoing 2023 African Games.

Danjuma whose wards won the Gold medal in the last African Games in Morocco in 2019 qualified for the final of the same competition on Monday after a 2-0 victory over Uganda in a semi-final tie.

The Nasarawa Amazons gaffer affirmed that his team has been given serious competition enroute to another final and that they won’t underrate any opponent including the Black Princesses of Ghana whom they play in the final on Thursday night.

Danjuma assured that the Falconets would be adequately ready to face their Ghanaian counterparts in the final because winning the gold medal is there only reason for coming to Ghana.

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 “I think we need to be enlightened about the growth and development of women’s football in Africa,” he  said after Monday’s semi-final win. “ There is no more small teams anymore. Almost all the teams have evolved.

“We must respect all the teams that have qualified for the competition. We know we have the team that can beat any team in Ghana. It was the reason why we joked we would have a walkover.

“If you have looked at Ugandans’ games against Senegal and Ghana then you will know that they have a good team.

“The game plan of the whole team in the competition is to build a team for the World Cup with their eyes on winning the gold medal.

“We didn’t throw ourselves out against Uganda because we do not want to caught off guard but we waited for the right moments and got our goals,” he added.

Nigeria’s Falconets defeated  their Ugandan  Under 20 counterparts, 2-0 in the semi- final of the football event of the ongoing African Games in Ghana.

Falconets are the reigning champions of the women’s football event and they didn’t have it easy against a plucky Ugandan side who were eager to upset form book.

Read Also: Falconets off to flying start at African Games

Nigeria , however, broke the deadlock in the 74^th  minute through Adaobi Okah before Rivers Angels’ Chiamaka Okwuchukwu netted the second in the 90^th  minute.

The Falconets will face either hosts Black Princesses of Ghana or Senegal whom they thrashed 4-0 in the group stage.