Falconets’ Coach, Peter Dedevbo, says his team will now work on its goalscoring tactics ahead of their quarter-final match against New Zealand at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
A statement issued by the team’s Media Officer, Elizabeth Kah, on Thursday in Abuja quoted Dedevbo as promising intensified training to achieve the target of winning the competition.
The national under-20 female team had on Wednesday come from behind to beat England 2-1 in their final Group C match in Canada.
The English side went ahead as early as the fifth minute through Nikita Parris, but Loveth Ayila drew the Nigerian side level four minutes before half time.
Asisat Oshoala gave the Falconets the winning goal through a spot kick in the 59th minute after she was fouled in the box.
The win was Nigeria’s second win from three matches at the competition, giving them seven points from two wins and a draw, and the top spot in the group.
Dedevbo said: “It was a fantastic match and the girls played their best.
“Though, we had problems in the first half with our defence and the English team kept my girls under a lot of pressure, but I commend their efforts.
“At first I did not know what happened when the English girls scored.
“But knowing my team’s performance, I knew they will come from behind to win.
“What lies ahead now is the quarter-finals and we will continue to focus on goalscoring.
“But I like the character of my team today (Wednesday).”
Nigeria will now take on Group D runners-up, New Zealand, in one of the quarter-finals matches at Moncton Stadium on Sunday.
New Zealand had beaten Costa Rica 3-0 to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The seventh edition of the Women’s World Cup started on August 5 with 16 teams and will end on August 24.
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