Nigeria’s female youth national team, Falconets are staking victorious memories, heading into Thursday’s quarter-final clash against Spain at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in France, haven beaten the same team two years in Papua New Guinea.
Falconets’ current assistant captain, Rasheedat Ajibade was in the Nigerian team that hit the headlines back then, and she has declared ahead of the rematch that she and the set of 2018 can do it again.
Ajibade says they are heading into the clash with Spain on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals of France 2018 with sweet memories of how they edged the Spaniards in a group phase game two years ago.
Nigeria won that match 2-1, and the two –time silver medallists have confidence they can pull off another victory against La Rojita in Concarneau to earn a berth in the last four.
Five members of the Class of 2018 were part of that squad that defeated Spain in Papua New Guinea two years ago, including Ajibade, who has scored both of the Nigerian team’s goals in the ongoing tournament.
Nigeria’s tally of four points was the lowest for a team that reached the quarter finals in France, but that would count for nothing when the Falconets file out against La Rojita.
Four of the girls that played for Spain in Papua New Guinea are in the squad in France, and Ajibade is confident they can surmount their foes on Thursday evening, starting from 3pm Nigeria time.
To reach this stage, the Falconets defeated Haiti 1-0 and drew 1-1 with China, after an opening –day 0-1 loss to perennial foes Germany in Saint Malo.
On their part, the Spaniards hammered Paraguay 4-1 and pipped Japan 1-0 before drawing 2-2 with USA.
