By Monica Iheakam
Falconets head coach , Christopher Danjuma is banking on experienced players in his squad to subdue Tanzania in the first round of the France 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier billed for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Boasting of quality players like Rasheedat Ajibade, Glory Ogbonna and Kemi Famuditi, who executed the last World Cup for Falconets in Papua New Guinea, Danjuma is confident that Falconets will fly over their visitors come Saturday.
“We have players who participated in the last FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and few others who are still within the age brackets from the last U-20 World Cup. I believe their experience coupled with the good training we have had in Abuja before coming to Benin City for Saturday’s match would certainly give us the edge against Tanzania,” Danjuma began.
“We have told the girls how important it is for us to win very well on Saturday. The good thing is that Nigeria remains one of the strongest teams at this level and we hope to continue with the same tradition of winning our matches come Saturday,” he affirmed.
After a shock first round exit at the last FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea, Falconets will hope to bounce back in style with this first leg encounter against Tanzania.
Tanzania hosts the return leg in a fortnight in Dar-es-Salaam with the aggregate winner facing either Morocco or Senegal at the penultimate round.
Two teams will emerge from the African qualifiers to represent the continent at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for 7-26 August 2018 in France.