The Nigeria U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, are set for a decisive group-stage match at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as they take on Venezuela at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia, today.
After securing a 1-0 victory over Korea Republic in their opening match, the Falconets fell to a 3-1 defeat against Germany in their second group game.
Now, they need a win against Venezuela to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Today’s match, kicking off at 21:00, is a must-win for Nigeria. A victory or a draw would see them advance to the round of 16 as one of the top two teams in Group D, alongside Germany, who have already sealed their qualification with wins over both Venezuela and Nigeria.
For Venezuela, the stakes are just as high. Only a win will keep their qualification chances alive, though they’ll still need results from other matches to go their way.
Meanwhile, Korea Republic’s hopes of advancing hinge on a Venezuela win and an upset against Germany in their final group match, making for a tense final day in Group D.
With Nigerian fans backing them, the Falconets will be eager to get the job done and secure their place in the knockout stages.