Tag: Colombia 2024

Colombia 2024: Anxiety for Falconets as World Cup draw holds in Bogotá

Coach Chris Musa Danjuma has assured that the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets, have no fears as the draw ceremony for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals takes place in the Colombian capital, Bogotá on Wednesday.

“We have no fear about any of the teams in the finals. Any team can be in our group. We know that to be the best, we have to beat the best,” said Danjuma, who took the team to the quarter-finals of the last edition in Costa Rica.

The 2024 finals in Colombia will be the first to welcome 24 teams, with Africa supplying four (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana). Matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo. The Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali are the other venues.

Already, the 24 finalists have been segregated into four pots thus:

Pot 1: Colombia, Spain, Japan, France, Korea DPR, Germany

Pot 2: Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Netherlands, New Zealand

Pot 3: Korea Republic, Ghana, Australia, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina

Pot 4: Austria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Fiji Islands, Morocco, Venezuela

Wednesday’s draw will throw the 24 teams into six groups of four teams each, with the two top-placed teams in each group qualifying to a Round of 16, alongside the best four third-placed teams.

Germany and the USA are the biggest winners of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, with three triumphs each. Korea DPR are two-time winners, with Japan and Spain winning once each. Spain are the Cup holders.

June 3, 2024
Falconets edge Burundi in Tanzania to put one leg in Colombia

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets brought joy to the nation’s teeming football lovers with a 1-0 defeat of Burundi in the first leg of their FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round fixture in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Janet Akekoromowei scored from the penalty spot in added time in the first half to give the 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists victory, and the Burundians played with only 10 women after that following red card to defender Ariella Umuarerwa.

Both teams will clash again at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, in the final leg of the qualification series, with the winner on aggregate qualifying as one of Africa’s four representatives at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia.

January 14, 2024
Colombia 2024: Danjuma picks 19 players to tackle Burundi in Dar es Salaam

Head Coach Chris Musa Danjuma has selected Captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defender Shukurat Oladipo and midfielder Taiwo Afolabi among a list of 19 Falconets of Nigeria who will file out against Burundi’s U20 girls in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying fixture, first leg encounter in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Shukura Bakare, who was in goal for the home game against Tanzania in the first round (which the Falconets won 2-1 to reach this final stage of the series) has also been picked, alongside defenders Jumoke Alani and Oluwabunmi Oladeji, midfielders Adoo Yina and Chima Olise, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Janet Akekoromowei, Yemisi Samuel and Opeyemi Ajakaye.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists are scheduled to travel out of Nigeria on Tuesday for the first leg encounter, for which the Confederation of African Football has picked South African official Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela as referee.

Her compatriots Maneo Evodia Tau and Nandipha Menze will be in the roles of assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively, while Nteboheleng Theresia Setoko from Lesotho will serve as fourth official.

Sunday’s encounter at the Azam Stadium Complex will see Tanzanian Somoe Robert Ng’itu play the role of commissioner, while Fransiska Katjaimo from Namibia will be referee assessor.

The return leg match will take place at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 20^th January.

FALCONETS TO TACKLE BURUNDI:

Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi; Shukura Bakare; Faith Omilana

Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem; Jumoke Alani; Rebecca Adegbemile; Shukurat Oladipo; Oluwabunmi Oladeji

Midfielders: Adoo Yina; Taiwo Afolabi; Olushola Shobowale; Aminat Folorunsho; Chioma Olise

Forwards: Opeyemi Ajakaye; Chiamaka Okwuchukwu; Chisom Chima; Janet Akekoromowei; Chiamaka Osuigwe; Oluwayemisi Samuel

January 8, 2024
Colombia 2024: Danjuma invites 25 players to camp for Burundi

Coach Christopher Musa Danjuma has called up 25 players to the camp of the Nigeria’s U-20 Girls, the Falconets for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burundi.

Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The invited players are expected to resume camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Dec. 27.

The Falconets reached the third round of the qualification after the withdrawal of Mauritius.

The Falconets edged their counterparts from Tanzania 3-2 on aggregate in the second round in November, setting up a clash with Burundi which sent the U20 girls of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo packing from the race.

Burundi will host the first leg of the fixture in Bujumbura from Jan. 12 to Jan.14, with the return leg at the Mohood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Jan.30.

The winner of the fixture will reach the last round of the qualification series, with the matches to be played in March 2024.

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for Colombia from Aug. 31 to Sept. 22, 2024.

December 20, 2023
Colombia 2024: Danjuma picks 19 players for Tanzania [Full list]

Christopher Danjuma, head Coach of Nigeria’s Under 20 football team, the Falconets has invited 19 players for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second round, first leg qualifying match against Tanzanian.

The match would be played on Nov. 12 at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 3 pm Tanzania time (1 pm Nigeria time)

The 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists have been in camp in Abuja for more than two weeks.

The Falconets will take on the Tanzanian girls on Nov. 19 for the return leg at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The winner on aggregate would progress to the third round of the race to Colombia in 2024.

Nigeria qualified for the third round following the withdrawal of Mauritius from the qualifiers.

After the Tanzania fixture, the Falconets will have one round to go before the qualification for the world cup in Colombia in September 2024.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointed Letticia Antonella Viana from e-Swatini as referee for the match and her compatriots Patricia Mkhaliph.

Others are Siphiwayikhosi Nxumalo and Nothando Nkhumane as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official, while Kenyan Margaret Omondi will serve as match commissioner.

Rachel Nzigire from Democratic Republic of Congo will be the center referee for the second leg, with Ngarassoum Victorine as assistant referee 1.

Rachel’s compatriots, Carine Puazi and Carine Ampur will be assistant referee 2 and fourth official, with Christine Ziga from Ghana as match commissioner.

The full List:

Goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi, Delta Queens, Shukura Bakare, Nasarawa Amazons and Faith Omilana, Naija Ratels.

Defenders: Oluchi Ohaegbulem, Nasarawa Amazons, Comfort Folorunsho, Edo Queens, Rihanat Kasali, Bayelsa Queens, Jumoke Alani, Edo Queens, Shukurat Oladipo, FC Robo Queens and Semilore Oladeji,Naija Ratels.

Midfielders: Adoo Yina, Nasarawa Amazons, Taiwo Afolabi, Delta Queens, Shola Shobowale, Nasarawa Amazons, Aminat Folorunsho, Rivers Angels and Chioma Olise, Edo Queens.

Forwards: Opeyemi Ajakaye, FC Robo Queens, Judith Okah, Remo Queens, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Rivers Angels, Chisom Chima, Bayelsa Queens and Janet Akekoromowei, Asisat Academy.

November 7, 2023