Preparations for Sunday’s U-20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying round are in full swing for Nigeria’s U-20 girls, as they underwent another training session in Dar es Salaam on Friday afternoon.
The first leg of the doubleheader game will take place on Sunday at the Azam Stadium Complex in Tanzania.
The victorious team over the two legs will qualify as one of Africa’s four representatives at this year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, scheduled from August 30 to September 22.
The Falconets, who have consistently participated in the finals since the competition’s inception in Canada in 2002, advanced to the quarter-finals in the last edition in Costa Rica. They are considered strong contenders to overcome the challenge from Burundi and secure another World Cup ticket.
Nigeria’s delegation arrived in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday as Burundi lacks an approved stadium for international games. The players swiftly acclimatized with a light training session upon arrival and continued training on Thursday.
The team is eagerly anticipating Saturday’s official training at the match venue – the same venue where they drew 1-1 with Tanzania’s U-20 girls in the last round of the qualifiers, before securing qualification to this stage with a 2-1 victory over the Tanzanian girls in Abuja in the return leg.
Head coach Chris Danjuma and his squad traveled with a 19-player squad, led by captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defenders Jumoke Alani and Shukurat Oladipo, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi and Chima Olise, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Opeyemi Ajakaye, and Janet Akekoromowei.