CANADA 2014 FIFA U-20 WOMEN: Falconets face fiery Korea Republic

                        
                  Nigeria’s Falcon­ets continue their quest for global glory tonight in faraway Canada, as they take on Korea Republic in their second Group C fix­ture at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Nigerian team, mak­ing its sixth consecutive appearance at the tour­nament needs victory in today’s encounter to keep hope of lifting the trophy this time round alive, after finishing as runner-up and in fourth place in 2010 and 2012 editions of the event respectively.
 
                 Parading one of the most experi­enced sides at the tournament, Coach Peter Dedevo will rely on captain Pa­tience Okaeme and a number of the national U-17 team, the Flamingoes that featured at the FIFA U-17 Wom­en’s World Cup in Azerbaijan two years ago, prominent among whom are striker Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu.
But it is Uchechi Sunday, who was in the squad that won silver in the 2010 edition of the tournament in Germany that is expected to inspire the Nigerian team to victory against the Koreans in today’s encounter.
Dedevo remains bullish on the ability of his girls to fly past the Ko­reans and go all the way to lift the trophy in Canada this time round.


“This team has been together for a long time and the players un­derstand each other. More so, the team is the baby of the federation because they know the team can go places, hence, the enormous en­couragement given to us” Dedevo emphasized.
However, the Falconets should expect a stiff opposition from their Korean counterparts in tonight’s clash billed to kick off at 9.00pm, Nigerian time, inside the main bowl of the Moncton Stadium, giving the pedigree of the Asian side.
The Koreans stunned the world four years ago in Germany when, in only their second appearance at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, stormed into the semi-finals, losing to host and eventual winner, Germany. Nonetheless, the Kore­ans returned home with their heads high with an impressive third place finish. Their next trip to the U-20 women’s showpiece, however, came to a disappointing end in 2012, when they lost 3-1 to host, Japan, in the last eight after seeing off Italy and Brazil in the group phase.
Coach Jong Songchon will bank on Captain Jang Selgi to deliver the goals his side needs to cage the Fal­conets in tonight’s game. Selgi ac­counted for five goals in the team’s 7-0 win over Myanmar in one of the qualifying matches ahead of Canada 2014.
Amazingly, Selgi, formerly a full-back, successfully completed a tran­sition to striker after helping Korea Republic win the FIFA U-17 Wom­en’s World Cup in Trinidad and To­bago four years ago. She’s one player the Falconets’ defenders must watch closely tonight.