Africa’s biggest hope for a podium appearance at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals, Nigeria, has returned to the Colombian capital, Bogotá, 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, which 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 securing a narrow win over New Zealand.
The Falconets reached the Round of 16 after narrowly defeating Korea Republic 1-0, losing 1-3 to Germany, and earning a convincing 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,” Coach Chris Musa Danjuma said on his team’s return to the capital.
“We are excited about the prospect of facing Japan and what that brings,” he added.
The clash between Nigeria and Japan will take place at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogotá—where the Falconets played their first two group phase matches against Korea Republic and Germany—starting at 2 a.m. Nigeria time (8 p.m. Thursday in Colombia) on Friday, Sept. 13.
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