Colourful traditional dancers, flag-waving enthusiasts and members of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 were among the excited crowd that welcomed two-time silver medallists Falconets of Nigeria to the Colombian capital, Bogota on Sunday evening.
Exhausted but fascinated by the pomp and pageantry, the Falconets, who landed at the El Dorado International Airport after a 13-hour flight from Istanbul in Turkey, lapped up the reception and showed appreciation to the motley crowd.
After a light training session on Monday to shake off jetlag, the Nigeria U20 girls will on Tuesday intensify their preparations for a strong challenge at winning the trophy. Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma told local journalists at the airport in Bogota that the Falconets are determined to go all the way this time, having logged two Final-Match appearances, a semi-final appearance and several quarter-final berths in the 22-year-old tournament.
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“We have the mandate and support of the Government and people of Nigeria to come here and give it our best fight-and-push. Our Sports Minister reminded us of the fact that Nigeria finished second in 2010 and 2014, and reached the semi finals in 2012. He charged us to come back with the trophy this time, and that is our objective.”
The Falconets’ final phase of preparation for the 23-day championship will include tough tests against Australia and Mexico. They go up against the Australians on Friday, 23rd August, and then confront the Mexicans three days later.
The girls from Mexico will be featuring in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup for the 10th time, having missed one previous championship, while Nigeria is one of only four countries (the others being USA, Brazil and Germany) to have played in every final tournament since the competition was launched as an U19 event in Canada in 2002.
With the competition having only this year been upgraded to a 24-nation-finals, nearly half of the finalists are debutants. These are Austria, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Fiji, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Thailand, Cameroon and Morocco.
5 Comments
Glad to see Opeyemi AJAKAYE in the team, after what seemed like an omission initially. Also noticed Olamide Oyinlola (CD for Flamingos at the 2022 U17 WC), who is now at the La Liga Academy in Spain and not listed among the invited players for the initial training camp.
GOOD LUCK LADIES!
The hosts, Colombia, are going to be firm favorites for the trophy. They’re a rising power in women’s football, have lots of talented ladies, and are always a hard nut to crack.
Good luck to Naija. I hope we don;t cross paths with the Colombians, Spanish, or French until the final.
Has anyone seen the final list?
@deo, not yet…
The final list has not been officially released yet but we can assume that it will be probably this week (Ghana released theirs in Colombia on Monday). Nevertheless, one can presume that the 21 players that went to pay a farewell visit to the Sports Minister will constitute the final squad.
Among the readily recognizable players at that visit were Opeyemi Ajakaye, Rofiat Imuran, Flourish Sebastian, Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Oshoala Academy), Shukurat Oladipo, the 2 CDs of the 2022 U17 WC Flamingos Comfort Folorunsho and Olamide Oyinlola (La Liga Academy, Spain), Jumoke Alani, Oluchi Ohaegbulam (capt), Yina Adoo, Chioma Olise, GKs Faith Omilana and Anderline Mgbechi, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Shola Shobowale, and I think Delight Nwosu might have been there as well.
Thanks 9jaRealist.
It looks like a strong squad. I hope that Reilly Adebowale from Bohemian FC Republic of Ireland will also make the cut, I have read good stuff about her.
I am sorry but Coach Chris Danjuma has no excuse this time. He needs to somehow manufacture a podium finish with such a polished, well groomed, well grounded and experienced squad.
This girls are no spring chickens in international football.
Thanks again bro.
The down side for me is that I will struggle to watch the matches live due to time difference. These days I can no longer sacrifice my sleep 🙂