Credit: Punch Newspapers |
Nigeria’s U20 girls have intensified their training sessions in Abuja ahead of Saturday’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying run-out against their counterparts from Burundi, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Head Coach Chris Danjuma,
who also led the team to the quarter-finals at the last edition of the FIFA U20
Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, is confident the Falconets will build on their
1-0 first leg victory in Dar es Salaam last Sunday to send the Burundians
packing.
“The first leg encounter was
tough, but we also should have taken our chances. We created several
opportunities but let the Burundians off and we seriously must guard against
such laxity on Saturday. We must take our chances early and make the match
enjoyable for our fans.
“Of course, I am already
looking forward to another World Cup with the team, but we must put first
things first. The challenge at the moment is to get Burundi out of the way on
Saturday and earn the ticket.”
Forward Janet Akekoromowei
netted the only goal of the first leg encounter from the penalty spot, in added
time of the first half, after a foul that earned Burundian defender Ariella
Umuarerwa the red card. The Falconets had lost an earlier penalty kick through
Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.
The Confederation of African
Football has appointed Tunisian official Asma Chouchane as referee for
Thursday’s clash, with her compatriots Houda Afine, Nesrine Ouertatani and Emna
Ajbouni involved as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Christine Ziga from Ghana
will be the commissioner while Fadouma Dia from Senegal will serve as referee
assessor.
This year’s FIFA U20 Women’s
World Cup finals will be staged in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September.
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