Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, have now fully recovered from their long trip to Colombia and are now set to confront their counterparts from Australia, in the first of two friendly matches organized by the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure team readiness for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in that country, 31st August – 22nd September.
Coach Chris Danjuma and his crew, which now includes fitness trainer Chima Michael, have been taking the Falconets on drills since Monday, in preparation for the clash with the Aussies on Friday in particular, and for the World Cup finals generally.
The clash with the girls from Down Under has been scheduled for 10am Colombia time (4pm Nigeria time) on Friday, at the Club Banco de la República in Bogota. NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon has assured thenff.com that all arrangements have been concluded for the encounter.
Danjuma’s squad from the qualifiers is now boosted by the presence of a number of players who have seen action with the Nigeria senior team, Super Falcons, including defenders Jumoke Alani, Rofiat Imuran, Comfort Folorunsho and forwards Opeyemi Ajakaye, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu and Flourish Sabastine. Folorunsho and Ajakaye were in 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 also with the Falconets in Colombia are goalkeeper Faith Omilana and forward Aminat Omowunmi Bello.
While the above-named players constitute the spine of the team, exciting talents like defender Shukurat Oladipo, Chioma Olise, captain Oluchi Ohaegbulam and forward Juliet Akekoromowei provide the basis for high expectations. The Falconets will tackle Mexico in another friendly match at the same venue on Monday.
NIGERIA’S SQUAD FOR FIFA U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP COLOMBIA 2024:
Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Shukura Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Unattached); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels)
Midfielders: Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Olushola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Joy Igbokwe (Naija Ratels); Shakirat Oyinlola (La Liga Academy, Spain)
Forwards: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Mary Nkpa (Heartland Queens); Chiamaka Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Oshoala Academy); Flourish Sabastine (Stade de Reims, France); Aminat Bello (Otero College, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye ( Madrid CFF Spain)