By Aderonke Ojo
The Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has charged the Nigeria U-20 women’s national team, Falconets, to go all out for victory against Korea Republic in their final friendly match ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Ikpeme gave the charge following the team’s 1-0 victory over hosts Poland in a friendly match on Friday.
Mary Mamudu scored in first-half stoppage time to give the two-time World Cup runners-up victory at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg.
The Falconets are scheduled to face Korea Republic on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Remes Sports Leisure and Spa Stadium in their final warm-up game before the tournament.
Ikpeme, who praised the team for their performance against Poland, said another victory against Korea Republic would help strengthen their confidence ahead of the World Cup.
“You did very well in your friendly match against the host nation by holding your own and eventually emerging victorious. The NFF and the entire Nigerian nation are proud of you.
“The victory over Poland has instilled a winning mentality in you, and another victory over Korea Republic on Tuesday will sustain that mindset.
“This will enable you to confront the challenges of the group phase of the World Cup with the needed confidence and vibrancy. I urge you to go for outright victory against the Koreans,” he said.
NAN reports that Nigeria will compete in Group F of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.
The Falconets will begin their group-stage campaign against Spain on Monday, Sept. 7, before facing China PR on Sept. 10 and New Caledonia on Sept. 13.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh