Falconets Captain, Patience Okaeme is brimming with confidence
ahead of FIFA U-20 World Cup opener against El Tri of Mexico.This
encounter in Moncton, Canada will be the third consecutive time that
Nigeria and Mexico will trade tackles at the U-20 levels.Without doubt,
Nigeria will parade one of the most experienced teams in Canada, with
many of their players used during qualifying, having already
participated at various global competitions
Aware that her duties as the skipper of the team meant more than
putting on an arm band, Okaeme said Nigeria’s status as one of the
global powers of women youth football, gives them the added zest to
excel.
“It’s good to know that Nigeria is one of the strongest teams around in this age group,” said the midfielder. “It gives us confidence, and we’re also aware that we have a good side too.
We also know, though, that we made the last four two years back. This time we want to go further. We want to win the trophy and that means more pressure for the team, whether you like it or not.
“A good captain has to know how to motivate her team-mates when morale is low. She has to lead the way, be understanding and friendly with everyone and treat every member of the team the same.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment to come. I think I’m going to have fun in Canada and I’m going to experience a lot of things here.”
Nigeria is the only African women’s team to have reached the final of a FIFA competition, specifically the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 when they lost 2-o to Germany.
For the Mexicans, they face a difficult task against a Nigeria side, who dazzled during the preliminaries, scoring 31 times without reply to cement their traditional dominance of African women’s football. The Falconets have plenty of experience at this tournament, having qualified for all seven editions and gone all the way to the final in 2010. But they will not be underestimating a side against whom they struggled badly in each of the last two U-20 Women’s World Cups, with Mexico out to reach the quarter-finals for a third consecutive edition.
Mexico is appearing in her sixth tournament and her fifth in a row. Las Aztecas has lost more games (11) and conceded more goals (49) than any other team in the U-20 Women’s World Cup.The team qualified by finishing runners-up in the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship 2014, following a 4-0 final defeat by USA.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has urged the Falconets to go for the kill when they face their Mexican counterparts in their opening fixture of the 2014 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup.
Acting President of the Federation, Mike Umeh, called on the U-20 women’s national team to start their campaign with an emphatic win over Mexico, whom they overpowered in Japan two years ago, courtesy of goals from Ngozi Okobi and Oparanozie.
“The Mexicans are no strangers to our girls in this competition. I remember also that our girls played a 1-1 draw with the Mexicans at the 2010 finals in Germany, where we reached the final.
“It is going to be tough, but our girls are as tough as they come and they will surely deliver the goals that will give them the three points ahead of the clash with Korea Republic and England,” Umeh said.
The Falconets take on Mexico today at the Moncton Stadium in Canada, where they also play Korea Republic on Saturday before flying to Edmonton to play England four days later.
“It’s good to know that Nigeria is one of the strongest teams around in this age group,” said the midfielder. “It gives us confidence, and we’re also aware that we have a good side too.
We also know, though, that we made the last four two years back. This time we want to go further. We want to win the trophy and that means more pressure for the team, whether you like it or not.
“A good captain has to know how to motivate her team-mates when morale is low. She has to lead the way, be understanding and friendly with everyone and treat every member of the team the same.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment to come. I think I’m going to have fun in Canada and I’m going to experience a lot of things here.”
Nigeria is the only African women’s team to have reached the final of a FIFA competition, specifically the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 when they lost 2-o to Germany.
For the Mexicans, they face a difficult task against a Nigeria side, who dazzled during the preliminaries, scoring 31 times without reply to cement their traditional dominance of African women’s football. The Falconets have plenty of experience at this tournament, having qualified for all seven editions and gone all the way to the final in 2010. But they will not be underestimating a side against whom they struggled badly in each of the last two U-20 Women’s World Cups, with Mexico out to reach the quarter-finals for a third consecutive edition.
Mexico is appearing in her sixth tournament and her fifth in a row. Las Aztecas has lost more games (11) and conceded more goals (49) than any other team in the U-20 Women’s World Cup.The team qualified by finishing runners-up in the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship 2014, following a 4-0 final defeat by USA.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has urged the Falconets to go for the kill when they face their Mexican counterparts in their opening fixture of the 2014 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup.
Acting President of the Federation, Mike Umeh, called on the U-20 women’s national team to start their campaign with an emphatic win over Mexico, whom they overpowered in Japan two years ago, courtesy of goals from Ngozi Okobi and Oparanozie.
“The Mexicans are no strangers to our girls in this competition. I remember also that our girls played a 1-1 draw with the Mexicans at the 2010 finals in Germany, where we reached the final.
“It is going to be tough, but our girls are as tough as they come and they will surely deliver the goals that will give them the three points ahead of the clash with Korea Republic and England,” Umeh said.
The Falconets take on Mexico today at the Moncton Stadium in Canada, where they also play Korea Republic on Saturday before flying to Edmonton to play England four days later.
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Okaeme confident as Nigeria battles Mexico |
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