Falconets’ Coach Christopher Danjuma confident ahead of FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup
Falconets of Nigeria head coach, Christopher Danjuma, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
Danjuma’s optimism comes despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their final warm-up match held in Bogota, Colombia. The match was decided by a 15th-minute volley from Mexico’s Alejandra Lomelí, but Danjuma views the encounter as a valuable learning experience for the Falconets.
Reflecting on the match, Danjuma emphasized the importance of these preparatory games, stating, “The friendly matches were crucial for the Falconets as they have helped the team fine-tune their strategies and assess their readiness for the tournament.”
He acknowledged that while the loss to Mexico was disappointing, the lessons learned were invaluable as the team prepares for the World Cup. Earlier, the Falconets secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Australia, boosting their confidence heading into the tournament.
“We won five of our six qualifying matches with healthy scorelines and have added victory over the Australians. The fact that we played two international friendly matches and won one and lost one shows the girls are ready,” Danjuma added.
Looking ahead, Danjuma is fully aware of the challenges in Group D, where Nigeria will face Korea Republic, Germany, and Venezuela. He noted, “The fact that we are up against the Korea Republic and three-time winners Germany in our first two matches means we need to be at our best physically, mentally, and psychologically.”
Despite the tough opposition, Danjuma remains optimistic about the Falconets’ chances, highlighting that the team is in strong physical and mental shape and ready to compete at the highest level.
The Falconets will kick off their World Cup campaign on September 2nd against Korea Republic, followed by a match against Germany on September 4th, and will conclude their group stage with a game against Venezuela on September 7th.
