FIFA U-20 WWC QUARTER-FINAL
Nigeria is favored to book a ticket to her third straight semi-final berth at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at the expense of New Zealand when both nations clash this morning in Moncton City, in the quarter-final of the on-going tournament in Canada.
Nigeria’s Falconets go into today’s game with an intimidating record of five previous quarterfinal appearances at the tournament as against their opponents, New Zealand, who will be playing in the knock-out stage of the event for the first time, having exited in the group phase in four successive previous appearances.
Falconets were runners-up in 2010 and semi-finalists two years ago and the Peter Dedevbo-tutored side has shown plenty of signs that it can go all the way to clinch the trophy this time round. The Nigerian girls who finished tops in Group C with seven points are so far unbeaten at the on-going tournament along with France and Germany.
The Falconets have been, Particularly impressive with their pace and physical power, while their mental strength has shone with the manner they came back from be­hind against both Mexico and England.
Although the Junior Football Ferns of New Zealand relish their first time qualifi­cation for the knock-out stage at the tourna­ment, they, nonetheless, are determined to push their luck further.
“We want to go even further,” explained midfielder Megan Lee, who lit up her team’s encounter with Costa Rica.
The New Zealand girls will, however, need to steel themselves for a stern examina­tion when they face the rampaging Falconets this morning. Not only must they maintain the attacking qualities that helped them down the Costa Ricans 3-0 and Paraguay 2-0, they will need to tighten up the rear­guard that shipped four unanswered goals against France – especially with the Loveth Aylia and Asisat