The U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, will on Sunday begin their campaign for a spot at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals with a second round, first leg showdown against their Liberian counterparts.
The match is scheduled to kick off at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, from 4pm Liberia time (5pm Nigeria time).
The Falconets’ contingent of 18 players and 11 officials arrived in Monrovia on Thursday evening. There was no official from the Liberia Football Association to receive the team; they were made to pay for their transportation from the airport to the hotel and were generally not attended to by the LFA.
However, Coach Peter Dedevbo, who led the team to runner-up position at the last World Cup in Canada, says his girls are battle –ready and not bothered by the antics of the Liberians.
Dedevbo’s list of 18 includes goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii, first choice for the team that reached the World Cup final last year, as well as 10 members of the Nigeria U-17 squad to last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica: Mary Ologbosere, Yetunde Adeboyejo, Tessy Biahwo, Joy Bokiri, Olubunmi Elijah, Patience Kalu, Ugochi Emenayo, Uchenna Kanu, Aminat Yakubu and Chinwendu Ihezuo. Ihezuo also played for the U-20 in Canada.