Former coach of the Super Falcons, Jossy Lad, is optimistic that the Nigeria women‘s team, Falconets, can make history in Germany by being the first African team to reach the final of the FIFA U-20 Women‘s World Cup Competition.
The team qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2010 edition of the competition after playing 1-1 draw with Mexico in one of the Group C‘s final matches. The draw gave the team five points, same with Mexico‘s total but the Mexican women were first in the group because of superior goal aggregate.
Earlier, Nigeria had come from behind to draw 1-1 with England and beaten Japan 2-1. Since the first edition of the competition was held in 2002, the Japanese women have established themselves as one of the favourite teams to emerge champions but despite their promising display, they have always ended their appearances in the quarterfinals.
But the Nigerian team have a huge mountain to climb on Sunday with champions, USA, as quarterfinals opponents. Lad said the approach of the team and the willingness to achieve results were two features that would work in the team‘s favour against the dreaded opponents.
He said, ”I have watched these girls in the competition and I am convinced that they can surprise everybody in Germany. I have not seen a player doing exceptional thing from the team but what I have seen is a bunch of girls working together as a team. I will prefer team work to individual display.
”The Mexicans were very good in this competition but by the time we played them last Wednesday, our team had already gained confidence from the 2-1 defeat of Japan and the 1-1 draw with England. That is why it is always important to start a competition with a good result. If we had lost one of those games, the pressure would have been on us.”
Lad said further that playing against a very good team could bring out the best in the opponents and the low profile of Nigeria, who have never gone beyond the quarterfinals stage, could work for the Falconets.
”The United States team in Germany is a good side but beatable. The bet is on them to reach the final and probably retain the trophy so the pressure is on them. We only need to play our game, be focused and look out for an opportunity to punish the opponents. I am sure they will be very adventurous and push forward to score early but if we can hold them and play as we had done in earlier matches, we have a chance to beat the American girls.”
In 2003, USA beat Nigeria 5-0 in a group match during the Women‘s World Cup played in the US, Lad said women‘s football had assumed a new level in Nigeria and poor results against big nations in the past would not count on Sunday.
”That was then, it is different now. Women‘s football in Nigeria has developed and having played against world best teams in the past, it is enough reason for us to aim higher than the quarterfinals stage. We have the opportunity to create history in this championship. If we can beat USA tomorrow, then we can match on to the final or even win the trophy for the first time.”
In comparison to Nigeria, United States have the best record in the U-20 Women‘s World Cup, always finishing among the best four teams. In the first edition in 2002, the American women beat hosts Canada 1-0 in the final. In the 2004 edition in Thailand, United States lost 3-1 to Germany in the semifinals but won the third place match against Brazil 2-0. In 2006, America finished fourth in Russia, losing the third place match to Brazil on penalties. But they bounced back strongly in Chile two years ago to beat Korea Republic 2-1 in the final.
In contrast, a huge gap exists between Nigeria and USA. The Falconets‘ best records were quarterfinals appearances in 2006 when they lost to Brazil and 2008 when they also lost to France.
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