By Jennifer Amarachi
Falconets head coach, Christopher Danjuma is confident in his team’s readiness for the next FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, which will take place from August 31 to September 22.
Danjuma’s assurance came after guiding the Falconets to a close 1-0 loss to Mexico in their final warm-up encounter in Bogota.
Mexico’s 15th-minute volley from Alejandra Lomelí proved decisive, but Danjuma sees the encounter as a valuable test for his team.
Danjuma reflected on the contest, emphasizing the importance of these practice games in fine-tuning the Falconets’ plans.
“The friendly matches were crucial for the Falconets as they have helped the team fine-tune their strategies and assess their readiness for the tournament,” Danjuma stated.
The seasoned coach admitted that, while the outcome against Mexico was not what they had hoped for, the experience gained was essential as they prepared for the World Cup.
The Falconets had previously defeated Australia 2-1, boosting their confidence ahead of the event.
Danjuma emphasized the team’s overall preparedness, adding, “We won five of our six qualifying matches with large margins and added victory over the Australians.” We played two international friendly matches and won one and lost one, demonstrating that the girls are prepared.
“The fact that we are up against the Korea Republic and three-time winners Germany in our first two matches means we need to be at our best physically, mentally, and psychologically,” he remarked.
The Falconets will open their World Cup campaign on September 2nd against Korea Republic, followed by a play against Germany on September 4th, and a final group stage match against Venezuela on September 7th.
