Christopher Danjuma, the coach of Nigeria’s under-20 women football team, has described Thursday’s draws which placed his team against Germany, China and Haiti as being fair.
Danjuma told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja that the team’s Group D rivals at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France are strong but surmountable.
He said: “We will prepare our team to be mentally ready.’’
NAN reports that the team will begin its campaign against tournament favourites and three-times winners Germany on August 6.
The Falconets had lost in the final match at Canada 2014 to the Germans by a lone goal.
Danjuma said: “The group is fair. For any team to qualify to this stage means that they are a strong side.
“But what we need at this level of the World Cup is for the players to be mentally tough and not allow fear no matter who the opponents are.
“We will work as hard as possible because the Nigeria Football Federation is doing all it can to ensure that we have quality preparations.’’
Nigeria’s second game at the competition will be against Haiti on August 9, while they will end their group stage matches against two-time runners-up China on August 13.
The opening game will see the other African representatives, Ghana, slug it out with hosts France on August 5 with New Zealand and Netherlands in Group A.
Group B has Korea DPR, England, Mexico and Brazil as foes, while Group C has the U.S., Japan, Paraguay and Spain.
NAN reports that the competition, which will be the ninth edition, is billed for August 5 to August 24 in France.
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