FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup: Ikpeme Urges Falconets To Maintain Winning Mentality Against Korea

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, has charged the Falconets to go all out for victory when they face the Republic of Korea in their final friendly ahead of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria’s U20 women’s team will take on their Asian counterparts on Tuesday, 1 September, at the Remes Sports Leisure and Spa Stadium, looking to build on their impressive 1-0 victory over hosts Poland in Friday’s warm-up match.

Mary Mamudu struck in first-half stoppage time to give the two-time World Cup runners-up victory at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg.

Ikpeme praised the players for their performance against Poland and urged them to reproduce the same determination against the Republic of Korea.

“You did very well in your friendly match against the host nation, by holding your own and eventually emerging victorious. The NFF and the entire Nigerian nation are proud of you,” Ikpeme told the team.

He said the victory over Poland should serve as a confidence booster ahead of the tournament.

“The victory over Poland has instilled a win mentality in you, and another victory over the Republic of Korea on Tuesday will sustain that mindset, enabling you to confront the challenges of the group phase of the World Cup with the needed confidence and vibrancy,” he said.

“I urge you to go for outright victory against the Koreans.”

The Falconets have been drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.

Nigeria will open their World Cup campaign against Spain on Monday, 7 September, before facing China PR on 10 September and New Caledonia on 13 September.