Colombia 2024: Falconets target victory over Mexico to sustain winning mentality

Posted : 26 August 2024

Christopher Musa Danjuma, the Head Coach of Nigeria's U-20 girls, the Falconets, said on Sunday that his team was ready to go all the way in search of a triumph over their Mexican counterparts when both sides clash in a friendly game on the turf of Club Banco de la República in Bogotá on Monday evening.

“Our victory over Australia was a sweet one, but I have told the ladies to put it behind them and focus on Monday’s encounter.

"We need another victory to maintain our winning mentality. We won five of our six qualifying matches with strong scorelines and have now added a victory over the Australians.

"As I keep saying at every turn, the FIFA World Cup finals here will not be easy.

"The fact that we are up against Korea Republic and three-time winners Germany in our first two matches means we need to be at our best physically, mentally, and psychologically.

"Physically and mentally, I believe we are in shape. Psychologically, we are good, and we will be great if we defeat the Mexicans and enter the competition unbeaten.”

In the African qualifying race, the Falconets routed their counterparts from the Central African Republic 6-0 in both Douala and Abuja, sent Burkina Faso packing with a 1-1 draw in Bamako and a 6-0 thrashing in Abuja, and dismissed Liberia 4-1 in Monrovia and 2-0 in Abuja, scoring 25 goals and conceding only two in the process.

On Friday, the 2010 and 2014 silver medalists edged the Aussies 2-1 in regulation time, and then won a subsequent penalty shootout, which took place at the request of the Australian delegation.

The clash with the Mexicans, who are expected to provide much stiffer opposition (having missed only one edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals since its inception in 2002), will kick off at 3:30 pm Colombia time (9:30 pm Nigeria time).

Danjuma’s squad from the qualifiers has now been boosted by the presence of a number of players who have seen action with the Nigeria senior team, the Super Falcons, including defenders Jumoke Alani, Rofiat Imuran, Comfort Folorunsho, and forwards Opeyemi Ajakaye, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, and Flourish Sabastine.

Folorunsho and Ajakaye were part of 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 now with the Falconets in Colombia include goalkeeper Faith Omilana and forward Aminat Omowunmi Bello.

Colombia 2024: Falconets target victory over Mexico to sustain winning mentality

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