By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s U20 Women team, the Falconets, set a World Cup group stage perfect record for themselves after beating Canada 3-1 in Alajuela on Thursday morning to finish with a perfect nine points out of nine in Group C.
Head Coach, Chris Danjuma Musa, said before the encounter that his girls would seek to win even as a quarter-final ticket was already in the bag, in order to sustain their winning mentality following hard-fought victories over France and Korea Republic.
That was exactly what the Falconets did.
The rated Africa’s best team conceded their first goal of the competition in an accidental manner, following goalkeeper Omini Oyono’s poor management of a backpass from Jumoke Alani that granted Kala Novak a fortuitous goal in less than two minutes.
“It was great for us to come back from that setback, and also conceding first in the tournament. We showed character and spirit, and that would be huge for us going forward in the competition,” Musa said after the match.
Midfield impresario Esther Onyenezide, whose vicious curling shot earned all three points against Korea Republic late on, to send the Falconets into the last eight on Monday morning, scored from the penalty spot in the 24th minute to pull the Falconets level. Defender Mia Pante had handled the ball from a Blessing Okpe shot in the box.
The Falconets looked composed and surefooted in the middle with the return of Deborah Abiodun, who sat out the encounter with the Koreans, and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu also played an inspired game after starting for the first time in the tournament. Her firm header from a Blessing Okpe cross in the 15th minute missed narrowly.
Onyenezide shot Nigeria ahead, also from the spot, in the 32nd minute minute, after Simi Awujo’s dangerous play against Mercy Idoko, as the latter who went for a header from Rofiat Imuran’s inswinger, was penalized.
In the added time of first period, Idoko came close to scoring her first goal of the tournament, but her touch from another Imuran inswinger kissed the upright.
In the second half, the Falconets added pace and brilliant use of space to their game, and it was no surprise when Imuran, again with a visionary cross, set up substitute Chioma Olise for Nigeria’s third goal.
Their imperial campaign in the group stage earns the Falconets a quarter-final date with The Netherlands in Alajuela on Monday August 22, 2022.
In the other game, stubborn South Korea was sent packing with a lone goal victory by France and there was none to comfort the Asian lords.
Mbakem-Niaro scored for France in the match officiated by Ref Vincentia Amedome of Togo.
Nigeria topped group C with full nine points, France came second with six points, South Korea had three points while Canada failed to secure a single point and their only goal was against Nigeria spoiling the grace to move with a clean slate for the coach Musa-led girls.
The other quarterfinal settings will now see with Spain play Mexico, being the first last eight on Saturday August 22.
Then, Columbia will face Brazil on Sunday.
On Monday, it will be Japan versus France before the Falconets’ duel completes the pack.
