Two-time finalists, Nigeria will begin a two-week final camping programme in the Colombian capital, Bogota, on Sunday, ahead of the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup finals, which begin in that country on the last day of the month.
The ever-present Falconets, who reached the semi-finals in Japan 12 years ago and quarter-finals in 2006, 2018, and 2022, secured one of Africa's tickets to this year's final tournament after defeating Tanzania and Burundi on aggregate.
The maidens led by Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma, spent four weeks in Abuja for the first portion of their final camp, winning a series of friendly games and losing just once.
"I'd want to thank the NFF for arranging the two-week camping trip in Colombia. This will greatly benefit the team because the players will have ample time to acclimate and become acquainted with their surroundings before the competition begins. I tell you that we will make the best of this opportunity," Danjuma told our reporter on Saturday, just hours before the team was scheduled to travel out of the nation to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight bound for Bogota.
Sports Minister John Owan Enoh met with the squad on Friday and tasked them with going for the ultimate prize after previously winning silver medals and reaching the semi-finals.
"Your predecessors did well, reaching the competition's final twice and making it to the semi-finals once. It is now time for you to advance our country by winning the trophy. I applaud the NFF for organizing the two-week final camping for you in Colombia, which will allow you to acclimatize thoroughly before the event.
"The Government and the people of this great country are with you, and I am confident that you will not disappoint."
The Falconets were present in Canada when the tournament began as an U19 Championship in 2002, and they have since played in Thailand in 2004, Russia in 2006, Chile in 2008, Germany in 2010, Japan in 2012, Canada in 2014, Papua New Guinea in 2016, France in 2018, and Costa Rica in 2022. The global coronavirus pandemic rendered any tournament impossible in 2020.
The Falconets have already been drawn to play Korea Republic, Germany, and Venezuela in that order in the group phase, and they know they must battle hard from the first whistle in Bogota if they are to make the Round of 16, as the competition welcomes 24 teams for the first time.
Africa's four flag-bearers (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon, and Ghana) will compete in four venues across three cities (Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali). The field has been increased to 24. There will be two venues in Bogotá: Estadio El Campín and Estadio Metropolitano de Techo. The other venues include Medellín's Estadio Atanasio Girardot and Cali's Estadio Pascual Guerrero.
Nigeria's opening encounter of the tournament, against Korea Republic, will be held on September 1 at the 10,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, the same location where they will face Germany three days later. Their final group round encounter will be against Venezuela on September 7th at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali.
.jpg)
