By Victor Kanayo
World Football Governing body, FIFA on Friday confirmed the various 16 teams slated to participate during this year’s women under-20 World Cup which kicks off Wednesday August 10, 2022 in Costa Rica.
Like other participating nations, FIFA has confirmed Nigeria’s match fixtures, dates, time and venues.
According to the fixtures, Nigeria U-20 female team, Falconets, one of Africa’s representatives paired in Groups C, will begin their World Cup campaign on Thursday 11 August against European power house, France.
The match which will be played by 6pm will hold at the San Jose Estadio Nacional.
The Chris Danjunma-led ladies will play their second match against Korea Republic on Sunday, August 14 in Alajuela Morera Soto by 2pm.
The 2010 and 2014 finalists will round off their group stage preliminaries on August 17 against Canada by 8pm.
At the 2014 championship in Canada, Nigeria topped a group involving Korea Republic, beating the Koreans 2-1 in a group phase match.
France finished in third place at the same competition as Nigeria finished as runners-up.
The Flamingos have already departed the shores of the country for 2022 global Championship.
Coach Chris Danjuma had picked team captain Oluwatosin Demehin and 20 others – an overwhelming majority of whom were involved in the lengthy qualifying series – to wear Nigeria’s colours at the 19 –day championship.
The Falconets had to scale the hurdles presented by Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Senegal, winning six of seven matches (they only drew with Cameroon in Douala) to be eligible to fly Africa’s flag once more at the finals in central America.
Germany, who have also won the competition three times, including 2010 and 2014 when they beat Nigeria in the final, will play Colombia, New Zealand and Mexico in Group B.
Africa’s other flagbearers Ghana are up against Cup holders Japan, The Netherlands and three–time champions United States of America in Group D.
Host nation Costa Rica will play the opening match against Australia on Wednesday, August 10.
All group phase and quarter final matches will be played at the Alejandro Morera Soto, which is a hybrid of natural and synthetic grass, called stitched grass. The semi final, final and third place matches will take place at the Estadio Nacional.
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