Nigeria’s Falconets will take on Japan in the round of 16 at this year’s FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup in Colombia.
The pairing was confirmed after Japan defeated Austria 2-0 in their final Group E game in the early hours of Monday morning.
The win saw Japan claim their third win in the group stage and finish as leaders while Austria placed second with six points.
The Falconets progressed into the first knockout round thanks to a 4-0 win against Venezuela in their final group game on Saturday.
It was their second win in the group stage after opening their campaign with a 1-0 win against South Korea.
The finished behind Germany who despite losing 1-0 to South Korea still topped the group ahead of the Falconets on goals difference.
After finishing second, the Falconets will now take on the winner of Group E Japan.
11 Comments
No comment. 9jarealist, this is a pairing I dread. 13 goals for, 1 against. Friday 2AM, the home truth will sink in.
What home truth?
That Danjuma cannot somehow fashion an approach that would utilise Nigeria’s physicality to neutralise Japan’ tiki-taka brand of football?
Playing a high-line will doom Nigeria. Weakness in 1v1s particularly down the flanks will be harmful. Wastefulness in front of goal will be punished. And playing like pregnant women against marauding lightning-quick Japan wingers and defenders will be detrimental and second-rate aerial abilities will punished.
Other than that and then some, Japan are very beatable.
Unleash Flourish Sebastian and Chiamaka Osigwe down the flanks with Chiamaka Okwuchukwu as the centre forward and you already have a killer duo. Japan must be stopped from regularly getting into their rhythm and groove. Hence Yina Adoo and Chioma Olise have to be boiling hot on the night (where is Deborah Abiodun when you need her?). Alani and Imuran must allow as few crosses as possible from the flanks with support from wingers and defensive midifielders.
Danjuma has no excuse and nowhere to hide. Japan must fall. If he achieves this, it will be his crowning glory to date as Flamingos coach across 3 world cups.
We have to make our physicality count, if not, Japan will overrun us and runaway as winners. We have to be neat and tidy in tackles and not give away needless freekicks in dangerous areas. We (again) have to take our chances, selfishness will be our undoing but players in score-able positions have to be brave, take initiative and not shirk goal scoring opportunities (a sense of balance is required as to when to pass or when to shoot).
The fitness trainer must recommend only the fittest girls. Smeh-smeh (sluggishness) anywhere on the pitch will be punished mercilessly by Japan.
This is such a monumental and mouthwatering encounter. Finesse football (with style, imagination, creativity, eloquence and a killer instinct) vs Physical football (with brute force, speed, physicality, and moderate cutting edge). Which side will prevail?
Deo, in your heart, don’t you think it is exactly what is in your second paragraph that will play out on Friday morning? My grouse about these age grade competitions is the fact that NFF does not take it seriously. Paying the coaches on per match basis means there is no need for active development plans for the teams until another competition comes up so the results are always a quick fix kind of situations. Then, add a straightjacket placid coach to the mix and it is impossible to get outstanding results.
Summary. Japan is unforgiving.
Japan scored more goals (13) than all the other three teams in their group combined: Ghana (5), Austria (5), and New Zealand (2).
Nigeria vs Japan Friday, 12 September
Good luck to Danjuma and his ladies.
History of Nigeria’s battles with Japan in the annals of U-20 Women’s World Cup:
2002 Group Stage: Nigeria 1:1 Japan
2010 Group Stage: Nigeria 2:1 Japan
2012 3rd Place Playoff: Nigeria 1:2 Japan
2016 Group Stage: Nigeria 0:6 Japan
So Nigeria managed, 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses to Japan.
Will Danjuma be able to double the win stats? We wait and see.
I think 3-5-2 formation will help the falconets to neutralise these marauding Japanese forwards.
Mr Nice, I think the 4-2-3-1 form used thus far should suffice depending on orientation. Personally, a defensive orientation with emphasis on counter attacks should allow our quick strikers to stab Japan when they over-commit players into attacking us.
Although I am an ambassador of excellence and a strong fan of Christopher that shone bright with the likes of Esther Onyenezidie at last u20 WC. Sadly the narratives has changed as the once upon a time World U20 silver medalist has refused to evolve but rather decline in his technical approach, maybe that’s as a result of the present government and silly NFF? I don’t know but I pray and hope that he gives his best philosophy against a well drilled Japanese side who is only second to an over aged North Korea in this tournament.
Nigeria will only put in their best. Let us tell ourselves the truth, our ladies are home bound. We find it difficult to convert our chances that was why we lost against Germany. We might experience a play back on the 12th.
Let’s hold on to a ray of hope because upsets aren’t yet an extinct species in international football.
Congratulation to the coaching crew and the wonderful girls for bringing joy to the people in Nigeria. You can win the trophy but remian focus. Forget the past matches now and look forward to taking your chances in front of goals.
Dear Sylvester,
I respectably disagree with your submission on NFF’s quick-fix fire brigade attitude towards preparing Nigerian teams for age grade tournament simply because it doesn’t apply to the Falconets under the tutelage of Coach Danjuma.
Let’s appreciate good work from NFF when data supports it and accord them the respect and recognition that this effort deserves.
You see, since the conclusion of the last U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2022 and the commencement of the current tournament, the NFF registered the Falconets for 2 tournaments (when they could have withdrawn): the WAFU Cup and the All Africa Games under the tutelage of the same Danjuma.
Add to that the fact that Danjuma has now being in the post since 2017, a massive 7 years. If that is not continuity from the NFF, what is? Despite that, he blows team away with ruthlessness and reckless abandonment and bucket load of goals in qualifiers and group stages only to give you silver or quarter final achievements in 7 years.
Another useful accoutrement is the fact that (like Randy Waldrum), Danjuma has retained is employment in club football all the while with the benefit of constantly experimenting, honing and reviewing his methods to bring refinement to his national team assignments.
His current Falconets squad has an quite an impressive curb appeal, being a mouthwatering amalgam of U-17 Flamingos, previous U-17 Falconets, club players with continental competition experience and European club exposure, and a few assortment of players exposed to full senior national team football (like Jumoke Alani who has incidentally played against the senior Japan national team).
So like I said, Coach Chris Danjuma has no choice, nowhere to run, no place to hide.
Japan must fall!
Dr Drey has vowed to abandon this platform until the end of the year if Nigeria defeats Japan, something that will delight me greatly and made me punch the air whilst screaming: ‘f**k Yeah!’. Because, but for that Yeye Dr Drey, I would have been the most lauded, feted, revered, renown, highly praised and most accomplished pundit on this platform. Having him leave will pave the way for me to be voted the 2024 Complete Sports APOY (African Pundit of the Year) award; something I will win with no issues with Dr. Drey gone!
I have never bothered my head about Kel, Pompei, Aythegreat or Dr Hush. These ones are not my level. They are second-rate, knock-off, low-grade pundits who can not even lace my boots. I regularly wipe the floor with them, particularly that Pompei who now wets his pants at the mere mention of “d” let alone deo.
As for you Sly, you are just a young, virgin, wanna-be pundit who gives me no sleepless nights. Mess with me and I will tear you limb from limb, you better respect your elders.
But as for Dr Drey, Coach Danjuma has to help me blow him into oblivion with a rousing demolition of Japan on Friday.
My prediction: 5:0 to Nigeria (J-A-P-A-N)