Columbia 2024: Falconets in eyes of storm against Japan in Round of 16

Posted : 11 September 2024

Nigeria’s two-time finalists at the U-20 Women's World Cup, the Falconets, will meet Japan on Friday in the Round of 16 matches at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogotá.

The Falconets of Nigeria, due to their experience, remain Africa’s biggest hope for a podium finish at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

To reach the final once again, the Falconets will have to surpass Japan, a side they have previously faced three times.

The first meeting between the two countries on the world stage was on July 12, 2010, which ended 2-1 in favor of Japan. The second match, on Sept. 8, 2012, also ended with the same scoreline.

However, the most recent encounter between both sides ended in a heavy 6-0 defeat for Nigeria at the hands of the Japanese team.

To qualify for the Round of 16, the Falconets edged South Korea by a lone goal but succumbed to the superior firepower of Germany in a 1-3 loss. They later recovered to thrash Venezuela 4-0 in their last group game.

In their 2022 games, Nigeria beat Haiti 1-0, drew 1-1 with China PR, lost 1-2 to Spain, lost 1-0 to France, beat Canada 3-1, and eventually lost 0-2 to the Netherlands.

The Falconets have competed in all eleven tournaments, losing in the finals twice to Germany — 2-0 in 2010 and 1-0 in 2014 after extra time. They also lost the bronze medal to Japan by 2-1 when Japan hosted in 2012.

Nigeria lost to Germany in both of their runner-up finishes. The team has been stopped five times at the quarterfinal stage, while no other African country has reached the quarterfinals.

Nigeria’s Falconets won gold at the 2019 All-African Games Football Tournament.

Historically, Nigeria has beaten South Korea 2-0 on August 19, 2012, defeated the South Koreans again on August 9, 2014, and narrowly won by a lone goal on August 14, 2022.

In the group stage of Group E, Japan defeated New Zealand 7-0, beat Ghana 4-1, and outclassed Austria 2-0.

Japan also demolished Vietnam 10-0 on March 4, 2024, beat China PR 2-0 on March 7, 2024, lost 1-0 to DPR Korea on March 10, 2024, thrashed Australia 5-1 on March 13, 2024, and lost again to DPR Korea 1-2 on March 16, 2024.

The Young Nadeshiko of Japan, in their seventh World Cup appearance, won the title in France 2018 by beating Spain 2-1. They hosted the tournament in 2012, winning the bronze by defeating Nigeria 2-1. They won the bronze again in Papua New Guinea in 2016 by beating the USA 1-0. In the last tournament in Costa Rica 2022, they lost in the final 1-3 to Spain.

Based on current performance, Japan appears poised to beat Nigeria, having scored 13 goals and conceded only one, indicating a solid defense and a potent attack.

Nigeria scored 6 goals and conceded 3, suggesting a less reliable defense and an inconsistent attack.

In summary, Japan seems to be technically superior to Nigeria.

Columbia 2024: Falconets in eyes of storm against Japan in Round of 16

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics