THE Falconets are eyeing a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup as they get set to face Japan.
The Nigerian side arrived back in Bogota, the Colombian capital, on Tuesday, after completing their group stage assignment.
The two-time finalists will battle Japan in the round of 16 in the early hours of Friday Nigerian time in Bogota, five days after beating Venezuela 4-0 in their final group phase match in Cali.
“The girls have worked very hard to get to this stage, and we are proud of their efforts,” Falconets head coach Chris Danjuma said as the team landed in Bogota.
“We will be taking the knockout stages one match at a time. I must tell you that we are excited at the prospects of facing Japan and what that brings forth.”
Japan are one of the strongest sides in women’s football globally and topped Group E that also included Austria, New Zealand and one of Africa’s flag-bearers Ghana, who have crashed out of the tournament.
The Falconets reached the Round of 16 after edging past Korea Republic 1-0, losing 3-1 to Germany, and earning a 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.
The clash between Nigeria and Japan will hold at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota – where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against Korea Republic and Germany – starting from 2am Nigerian time (8pm, Thursday in Colombia) on Friday.
