Falconets off to Harare on Wednesday

The U-20 Women National Team, Falconets, will fly out of Lagos to Harare on Wednesday for Sunday’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against their Zimbabwean counterparts.

A delegation consisting of 20 players and 10 technical and administrative officials will depart aboard a South African Airways flight to Johannesburg at night, where the contingent will board a connecting flight to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Nigeria won the first leg 3-0 in Abeokuta on the last day of March, but Head Coach Edwin Okon says his squad is prepared for a stiff contest against the Young Mighty Warriors on Sunday.

“The Zimbabweans put up a strong performance against us in the first leg, and before their own fans, they will strive to punch above their own weight. We are ready for them.

“Our approach will be to assume the match in Harare is the first leg. That way, we would not relax on our oars or think about any advantage that we might have”, said Okon.

The winner on aggregate will face off against the winner of the fixture between Mali and Democratic Republic of Congo, which first leg in Bamako is yet to hold following the military coup that toppled the administration of President Amadou Toumani Toure.

Incidentally, DR Congo referee Julia Kyabuta Kanyembo will be at the centre when Zimbabwe host Nigeria on Sunday, with fellow Congolese Lukusa Kanjinga (1st Assistant Referee), Adelle Sula (2nd Assistant Referee) and Gladys Lengwe (4th Official). The Match Commissioner is Palmira Francisco from Mozambique.