The Head Coach of the Nigeria U-20 side Falconets, Christopher Danjuma says his team are excited about the prospect of facing Japan in the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia on Friday.

The Nigerian side reached the stage after a 1-0 win against Korea Republic, losing 3-1 to Germany, and then earning a convincing 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali.

Japan, one of the strongest forces in women’s football globally, topped Group E, which also included Austria, New Zealand, and one of Africa’s flagbearers, Ghana.

Ahead of their clash with Japan, Danjuma said, “The girls have worked very hard to get to this stage, and we are proud of their efforts. We will be taking the knockout stages one match at a time. I must tell you that we are excited at the prospects of facing Japan and what that brings forth.”

Nigeria and Japan will face off at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota, where the Falconets played their first two matches of the group phase against the Korea Republic and Germany, starting at 2 am Nigerian time on Friday, September 13.