Falconets ready to battle Spain for World Cup semi-final ticket
N@shagcy igeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets will tackle their counterparts from Spain today for a place in the semi-finals of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in France, with sweet memories of how the Falconets edged the Spaniards in a group phase game in Papua New Guinea two years ago.
Nigeria won that match 2-1, and the two-time silver medallists are confident they can pull off another victory against La Rojita in Concarneau to earn a berth in the championship’s last four.
Five members of the Class of 2018 were part of that squad that defeated Spain in Papua New Guinea two years ago, including goal poacher Skipper Rasheedat Ajibade, who has scored both of the Nigerian team’s goals in the ongoing tournament. Four of the girls that played for Spain in Papua New Guinea are in the squad in France.
Nigeria’s tally of four points was the lowest for a team that reached the quarter-finals in France, but that would count for nothing when the Falconets file out against La Rojita this evening, starting from 3pm Nigeria time.
To reach this stage, the Falconets defeated Haiti 1-0 and drew 1-1 with China, after an opening-day 0-1 loss to perennial foes Germany in Saint Malo.
On their part, the Spaniards hammered Paraguay 4-1 and piped Japan 1-0 before drawing 2-2 with USA.