Colourful traditional dancers, flag-waving enthusiasts, and members of the Local Organizing Committee of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 were among the excited crowd that welcomed two-time silver medallists Nigeria to the Colombian capital, Bogota, on Sunday evening.
Exhausted but fascinated by the pomp and pageantry, the Falconets, who landed at El Dorado International Airport after a 13-hour flight from Istanbul in Turkey, lapped up the reception and showed appreciation to the motley crowd.
In a statement on Monday, the NFF Communications Department said that the team had a light training session on Monday to help them recover from jetlag.
The Nigeria U20 girls will intensify their preparations for a strong challenge at winning the trophy on Tuesday.
Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma disclosed to journalists at the airport in Bogota that the Falconets are determined to go all the way this time, having logged two final-match appearances, a semi-final appearance, and several quarter-final berths in the 22-year-old tournament.
He said: “We have the mandate and support of the government and people of Nigeria to come here and give it our best fight and push.
“Our Sports Minister reminded us of the fact that Nigeria finished second in 2010 and 2014 and reached the semi-finals in 2012. He charged us to come back with the trophy this time, and that is our objective.”
The Falconets’ final phase of preparation for the 23-day championship will include tough tests against Australia and Mexico. They go up against the Australians on Friday, August 23, and then confront the Mexicans three days later.
Mexico’s girls will compete in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup for the 10th time, having missed one previous championship.
Nigeria, along with the USA, Brazil, and Germany, is one of only four countries to have participated in every final tournament since the competition’s inception as an U19 event in Canada in 2002.
With the competition having only this year been upgraded to a 24-nation final, nearly half of the finalists are debutants.
These are Austria, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Fiji, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Thailand, Cameroon, and Morocco.
FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, Colombia 2024
GROUP A: Colombia, Australia, Cameroon, Mexico
GROUP B: France, Canada, Brazil, Fiji
GROUP C: Spain, USA, Paraguay, Morocco
GROUP D: Germany, Venezuela, Nigeria, Korea Republic
GROUP E: Japan, New Zealand, Ghana, Austria
GROUP F: Korea DPR, Argentina, Costa Rica, The Netherlands
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