The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has urged the players and officials of Nigeria Under 20 Women National Team, Falconets to put behind them the loss of the African Games women’s football event gold medal to Ghana and work hard towards making a huge impression at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
The Falconets lost to Hosts, Ghana 2-1 in the final of the All Africa Games Woman Football event on Thursday Night at the Cape Coast Stadium. Gusau while speaking after the match praised the players ” “You played well and showed good skills and teamwork all the way to the final, but your best was not good enough to retain the gold medal. There is no need and there will never be any gain crying over spilled milk. The onus is now on you and the coaches to focus on the FIFA World Cup finals coming up later this year.
“In truth, the NFF and Nigerians expected you to retain the gold medal, having scored eight goals and conceded none until the final match. That is gone now and the World Cup beckons. Your collective objective should be to win the World Cup trophy for the first time. The NFF will give you all the support to prepare adequately and face the world’s best in Colombia.” The NFF President added “Our girls have been in the Final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup on two occasions,” In 2010 and 2014, though they lost on both occasions to Germany. They were in the semi-finals in Japan in 2012, and at the last edition in Costa Rica, they reached the quarter-finals.
“There has been some consistency in our performance over the years and it is time to take the step up and claim the title. That can only be done by hard work, focus and self-belief. The hard work must start right now.”
The Falconets have played in every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since its inception as a U-19 tournament in Canada in 2002. They qualified for this year’s tournament after defeating Tanzania and Burundi in the qualifying stages.
Spain are the defending champions as they defeated Japan 3-1 in the 2022 Finals. The FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will take place from the 31st of August to the 22nd of September 2024.
