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Nigeria’s Falconets
have set their sights on securing their place in the knockout rounds of
the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany by getting a result
against their upcoming opponents Mexico on Wednesday in Bochum.

With four points
already in their nest, following a 1-1 draw against England and a 2-1
win over Japan, the Falconets only need a draw on Wednesday to qualify
for the quarter finals.

A draw will see
both Nigeria and Mexico advancing to the quarter finals and the team’s
coach Ndem Egan is hoping to lead the Falconets to their fourth
successive quarter final appearance.

“As I said after our opening draw with England, my players have a winning mindset,” said Egan in an interview with Fifa.com.

“In the first game,
all we were lacking was that little bit of luck you need to claim three
points. Against Japan our game clicked into place right from the
kick-off, and we overcame them with our strength and speed.

“I’m very pleased and happy for my players. But we now need to focus on Mexico, our upcoming opponents.

“We’re not quite there yet – we need to make sure of our place in the next round in the final group match.”

The Falconets were
wasteful in their opening game against England and had to come from
behind to pull off a 1-1 draw against the European champions. They,
however, displayed better finishing skills against the Japanese,
winning 2-1 with goals from Amarachi Okoronkwo and Desire Oparanozie
with the first Falconets goal arriving after just six minutes.

“After grabbing the
opening goal, the only thing I could think of was to run to the bench
to celebrate with my team-mates,” described Okoronkwo, who also scored
during the group stage of the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New
Zealand.

“It was very important to score first.”

Goals provider

Ebere Orji was the
creator of both Nigerian goals against the Japanese side. She was also
the provider of the cross that led to Nigeria’s equalizer against
England and currently has three assists in the tournament.

Together with the
team’s leading scorer, Oparanozie, she has been one of the stars of the
tournament and explains the secret to the Falconets’ success, just as
she looks forward to her first goal of the tournament.

“We try to stamp
our style of play on games, by controlling possession and attacking in
numbers,” said Orji, who took part in the last U-17 World Cup in New
Zealand.

“Many of the
players in the squad know each other from our New Zealand 2008 campaign
and that familiarity extends to the field of play.

“I want to help out
my team with my ability to put the ball in the net, but for the moment
I’m not having much luck in that department. I am happy to have played
some part in the goals, though,” added Orji, who scored once at New
Zealand 2008 and three times at the previous FIFA Women’s U-20 World
Cup in Chile, also in 2008.