Head coach of the national Under-20 Women team, Peter Dedevbo, has said his wealth of experience and that of his players will see the team through at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Peter Dedevbo
He said: “We have a squad of able, courageous and confident players and I believe we have the capacity to go all the way in Canada.
“Above all, my wealth of experience in competitions of this magnitude and that of the players will be an added advantage for the team to excel.
“We’ve also prepared very well for the task at hand, and I want to assure Nigerians, especially football followers, that we will not disappoint.
“My players are focused on a mission of doing the country and the continent proud in the North American country.”
The 2014 edition will be the seventh FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. It will be held in Canada from August 5 to 24. The country will also host the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Canada’s successful bid for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will make it the first country to stage the tournament twice, after hosting the inaugural edition in 2002.
The Falconets flew out of the country on Monday for a 24-day final camping programme in Canada ahead of the competition.
A delegation of 24 players and 11 officials, led by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chief Technical Officer, Siji Lagunju, flew aboard a Lufthansa Airline plane from Abuja to Frankfurt, from where it would connect another flight to Moncton, Canada.
Nigeria has featured in all previous FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals since the event was launched in Canada 12 years ago, reaching the final in Germany four years ago before losing to host, Germany.
The Falconets made it to the semifinals of the 2012 finals in Japan.
In Canada, Dedevbo, who led the U-17 girls to the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and Azerbaijan in 2012, will boost the Falconets’ spirit for the Group C campaign against Mexico in August 6 and Korea Republic in Moncton in August 9 and against England in Toronto on August 13.