Falconets’ head coach Christopher Danjuma remains confident in his team’s readiness for the upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Danjuma’s assurance came after he led Nigeria’s U20 girls to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their final warm-up match in Bogota, Colombia.
Mexico’s early strike, a 15th-minute volley from Alejandra Lomelí, was the decisive moment, but Danjuma sees the game as a valuable test for his squad.
#U20Women | Gooooooal 🤩
Alejandra Lomelí opened the score for our Team ⚽#SomosMásDe11 pic.twitter.com/bwLmPZbfGD
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) August 26, 2024
Reflecting on the match, Danjuma highlighted the significance of these preparatory games in fine-tuning the Falconets’ strategies.
“The friendly matches were crucial for the Falconets as they have helped the team fine-tune their strategies and assess their readiness for the tournament,” Danjuma stated, as per the Punch.
The veteran gaffer acknowledged that while the result against Mexico was not what they hoped for, the experience gained was invaluable as they gear up for the World Cup.
The Falconets had earlier secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Australia, a result that bolstered their confidence heading into the tournament.
Danjuma emphasised the team’s overall preparedness, saying,
“We won five of our six qualifying matches with healthy scorelines and have added victory over the Australians. The fact that we played two international friendly matches and won one and lost one shows the girls are ready.”
Looking ahead, Danjuma is fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead, particularly in Group D, where Nigeria will face Korea Republic, Germany, and Venezuela.
“The fact that we are up against the Korea Republic and three-time winners Germany in our first two matches means we need to be at our best physically, mentally, and psychologically,” he remarked.
However, he remains optimistic about the Falconets’ chances, underscoring that the team’s physical and mental shape is strong and that they are ready to compete at the highest level.
The Falconets will begin their World Cup campaign on 2nd September against Korea Republic, followed by a clash with Germany on 4th September, and will conclude their group stage matches against Venezuela on 7th September.