Nigeria’s Super Falconets will on Sunday (today) battle their German counterparts in the final of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in Canada.
The final comes up 12am Nigerian time. If the Falconets emerge victorious, they will become the first African side to win a FIFA-organised tournament for women. The team left Moncton on Thursday for Montreal.
It’s a replay of the 2010 edition of the competition, when the Germans defeated Nigeria 2-0 on home soil.
Asisat Oshoala netted four goals and made two at the Moncton Stadium on Wednesday, as the Falconets ran riot against Korea DPR, winning 6-2, in the highest scoring semi-final ever seen at the U-20 Women’s World Cup to reach their second final of the competition. Courtney Dike and substitute Uchechi Sunday were the other scorers.
Germany overcame hard-fighting France 2-1 leaving the latter to battle for third place with Korea on Sunday.
The Falconets alongside Germany, USA and Brazil have attended every edition of the competition since inception 12 years ago but their best outing was in 2010, when they lost in the final to hosts Germany.
After failing to advance to the knockout stages at their first two attempts, they qualified for the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2008, but lost to Brazil and France respectively. After reaching the final four years ago, they made the semi-finals in 2012 but lost the third-place game to Japan 2-1 to finish fourth.
Coach Peter Dedevbo and his charges know that this is a second chance to create a first impression as world champions, and put smiles on the faces of millions of football-crazy compatriots back home always hungry for laurels.
Dedevbo will be banking on the huge experience and unity in his team to brush aside the German challenge in Montreal. He will also be happy as there have not been injury worries ahead of the final.
Tournament top scorer with seven goals, Asisat Oshoala, Osarenoma Igbinovia and defender Ugo Njoku were part of the Falconets squad that reached the semifinals at the last edition of the competition in Japan two years ago.
Highly experienced Uchechi Sunday top-scored with 10 goals in qualifying and she has been dubbed the tournament’s super sub having come on thrice from the bench to hit target. She was part of the squad that reached the final in 2010 before playing at the senior women’s World Cup a year later in Germany.
But the majority of the squad is made up of players from the 2012 Flamingoes side: Ebere Okoye, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Jiroro Idike, Halimatu Ayinde, Sarah Nnodim, Yetunde Adeboyejo and Victoria Aidelomon.
Striker Ihezuo, also played at this year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup alongside Uchenna Kanu.
Dedevbo will also rely on the quick feet of the US-based Courtney Dike, who is representing Nigeria for the first time in a major tournament. She scored the competition’s fastest goal ever, when she hit target in the 18th second of the group game against Korea Republic in Moncton. She also began the rout of Korea DPR on Wednesday, blasting home in less than two minutes.
Aside her early goals, Dike has added aggression and physicality to the Nigerian side. More importantly, she is a highly intelligent striker.
To stop the highly disciplined Germans, Dedevbo must fortify his defence line. Strikers Pauline Bremer and Sara Daebritz have five goals apiece and could wreak havoc if not properly tamed.
“We (Falconets) have conceded goals in all the games we have played. The coach needs to talk to the defenders to concentrate because this is the final and its winner takes it all. They need to pay more attention and be more careful around the 18-yard box,” former Super Falcons coach, Eucharia Uche, said.
Rita Nwadike, the woman, who scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, advises Dedevbo to strengthen his midfield for the crucial final encounter.
The ex-Falcons striker said, “Up front the Falconets are okay; the wingers and full-backs have been doing well, as well as the midfielders. The coach can deploy two defensive midfielders to help fortify the defence.
“It’s not going to be an easy match for Nigeria because both sides are good but with determination our girls can conquer their opponents.”
Falcons forward Stella Mbachu believes the duo of Oshoala and Sunday, her teammates at Rivers Angels, will be key in dashing German hopes. Both players share 10 goals among themselves.
“The two of them will be instrumental in beating Germany. They are very intelligent players and I knew they were going to score goals in Canada because they have been doing that in our club. So, I am not surprised in what they are doing in Canada,” the 2010 African Women Championship best player said.
“I am optimistic the Falconets will lift the cup. The Germans won the title in 2010 at the Falconets expense, but this is our own time, the girls are good and they will surprise the world.”
Uche believes the Falconets’ huge experience will be the deciding factor against a highly technical Germany side on Sunday.
She said, “They have done very well getting to the final; they have experience on their side and I have no doubt they will make it. They have met Germany before, in 2010 and some of the girls who played in that competition are also present in this team. So, all they need is to bring their experience to bear and bring the trophy home. The Germans are not unbeatable but our girls need to concentrate. I believe we would come out victorious.”
The Falcons have found it difficult to assert themselves as queens of African football. Would it be right to promote this highly entertaining Falconets side to the senior team?
Uche disagrees.
The ex-Falcons star said, “That is where we always get it wrong. You can’t compare age category to senior level football. You can’t push the Flying Eagles to the Super Eagles just because they reached the final or won their age-grade competition.
“A girl in this team (Uchechi Sunday) played for the Super Falcons at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany. Even if they bring the trophy home, it’s still not enough to use them to replace the Falcons because they won a youth tournament.
“The good ones, who can stand the test of time and those who have been there before can be invited to the senior squad.”
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