The Nigeria Women’s U-20 National Team will be looking to claim three wins from three matches in their final group match at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2022 on Thursday.
The Falconets were the dominant force in Group C, beating European champions France and Asian queens South Korea by a similar 1-0 scoreline.
These two impressive victories secured the Nigerians a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. However, the team coached by Christopher Danjuma will top the group if they avoid defeat to Canada.
Canada lost the finals as the hosts in 2002 and were far from exceptional in Costa Rica, with the North Americans batting in Group C.
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South Korea beat them 2-0 before France forced them to a 3-1 throat defeat.
With the two losses, Canada are out of the league and have nothing but pride in playing against Nigeria.
However, it could prove to be a tricky draw for Nigeria if complacency creeps in. Nigeria met Canada twice at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with the Falconets winning both times. The two teams met for the first time in the group stage of Russia 2006 and the Falcons won a thrilling duel 3-2. Nigeria reached the quarter-finals but failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
It will be another ten years before there is another duel between Canada and Nigeria at the World Cup. Once again, Nigeria prevailed 3-1, but neither team advanced beyond the group stage in New Guinea, 2016.
