By Albert Akota
The Acting President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Mike Umeh has called on the U-20 Women National Team to start their campaign in this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada with an emphatic win over Mexico, whom they also overpowered in Japan two years ago.
In one of the best matches of the 6th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Desire Oparanozie’s bullet header in the second half of extra time separated Nigeria and Mexico in the quarter finals in Tokyo, sending the Falconets into the semi finals and the Mexicans back home.
“The Mexicans are no strangers to our girls in this competition. I remember also that our girls played a 1-1 draw with the Mexicans at the 2010 finals in Germany, where we reached the Final.
“It is going to be tough, but our girls are as tough as they come and they will surely deliver the goals that will give them the three points ahead of the clash with Korea Republic and England,” Umeh assured.
The Falconets take on Mexico tomorrow at the Moncton Stadium in Moncton, where they also play Korea Republic on August 9 before flying to Edmonton to play England four days later.
In their opening match of the tournament in Japan two years ago, the Falconets turned back the Koreans 2-0, with goals from Ngozi Okobi and Oparanozie.
However, both clashes involving Nigeria and England at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup have ended 1-1 – in Coquimbo, Chile in 2008 and in Augsburg, Germany two years later.
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