FIFA U20 WWC: South Korea vs Nigeria – Match preview, h2h as Falconets battle two-time Asian champions for QF ticket

The African girls overcame European champions France on Friday but face another stiff opposition in the Taegeuk Ladies

Nigeria will lock horns with South Korea on Sunday night for the second Group C match at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Both countries won their opening games at the Championship. Nigeria stunned European champions France 1-0, while South Korea outclassed Canada 2-0 to rise to the group’s summit.

In their games against the French, the Nigerian girls showed grit and composure to withstand the best thrown at them and the quality to take their chance when it arrived.

With the tie heading for a goalless draw, star striker Flourish Sabastine raced through on goal to finish expertly past France’s goalkeeper to hand three precious points to the Africans.

South Korea were even more impressive in their defeat of 2002 runners-up Canada.

Two goals within nine second-half minutes was all the Taegeuk Ladies needed to overcome the North Americans.

But it would be a completely different ball game when the Asians square up against the dominant force in African football.

A win for any of the two nations will guarantee a place in the quarterfinals, a stage the Falconets have failed to reach in only one of their ten appearances at the World Cup.

Head to head

The Falconets have never missed an appearance at the World Cup in ten editions and have come against South Korea on two previous occasions.

Nigeria boast a perfect win record against Sunday’s opponents.

The two countries’ first meeting was at Japan 2012, where goals from Desire Oparanozie and Okobi-Okeoghene powered the Falconets to a convincing 2-0 win.

At Canada 2014, Nigeria also secured a 2-1 victory over the Koreans in a matchday two encounter at the Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton, New Brunswick.

It still will not be an easy task to beat the Koreans, whose best finish in the tournament is third place in 2010.

But Nigeria, two-time runners-up, will be the slight favourites to book a second win in Costa Rica.

Match details

Tournament: FIFA U-20 World Cup
Host: Costa Rica
Game: South Korea vs. Nigeria
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
Date: Sunday, August 14
Kick-off time: 9 p.m Nigerian time