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Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, have been urged to attack with purpose and score freely when they face New Caledonia today, in a result that could book them a place in the Round of 16 at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Head Coach Moses Aduku, speaking ahead of the Group F fixture at the Stadion Miejski LKS Łódź, said his side would not underestimate their opponents despite New Caledonia’s heavy defeats in their opening two matches — a 0-5 loss to China and a 0-11 defeat to Spain, leaving the debutants bottom of the group with no points and a goal difference of minus 16.
“The results in their last two matches notwithstanding, we will not under-rate our opponents. I am happy because the girls are in good spirits and ready to go, and there are no injuries in our camp as I speak,” Aduku said.
“We all know the implication of our not scoring goals on Sunday, so we will go in there and focus on scoring goals to stand a chance of reaching the next round. We cannot afford to go back home now.”
Nigeria currently have one point from a goalless draw with China on Thursday and must win convincingly to erase the two-goal deficit from their opening loss to Spain, while also securing a healthy goal difference to advance regardless of the outcome of the other Group F tie between Spain and China.
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Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, echoed the coach’s charge, telling the players by phone after training in Łódź on Saturday that victory would put them in strong contention for the knockout stage.
“You have a great chance to qualify for the Round of 16 if you win and win well against New Caledonia. It is a good opportunity that you have to prove yourself but you must approach the match with clarity of purpose, focus and ambition,” Ikpeme said, adding that a win would push Nigeria to four points.
Still on Saturday, Ikpeme visited the camp of the U17 girls’ team, the Flamingos, who depart the country on Monday for the WAFU-B U17 Girls Tournament in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, starting 15th September. He urged the team to go all out for the title, recalling that Nigeria lost the inaugural edition on penalties to hosts Ghana in 2024 after a 2-2 draw, describing the tournament as important preparation ahead of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Ikpeme also commended Rangers International of Enugu for eliminating hosts Sobemap FC of Benin Republic on penalties in the CAF Champions League on Friday to reach the second round, despite a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Abeokuta. He urged other Nigerian clubs in continental action this weekend — Rivers United, El-Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars — to fight for similar results.
