Nigeria Football Federation president Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Monday urged the Falconets, Nigeria’s under-20 girls’ team, to be focused, pay attention to their coaches’ instructions, work hard and display discipline to achieve success at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia.

Nigeria, who have finished second twice, came close to winning but have yet to lift the second most important FIFA women’s trophy. However, Gusau believes that with hard work, discipline and dedication, the Falconets can take the podium this time around.

“I am aware of our country’s reputation in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Your predecessors have won the silver medal twice and reached the semi-finals once. Now it is time for the ultimate.

“I believe that with discipline, hard work, dedication, focus and prayers for mother luck in your matches, you can emerge victorious. These are the qualities needed for success. The NFF will continue to provide the support and encouragement you need to excel,” Gusau said while speaking to the players after their morning training session at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project on Monday.

The 2024 finals in Colombia will be the first to welcome 24 teams, four of which will be from Africa (Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana). The matches will take place in four venues in three different cities (Bogotá, Medellín and Cali). There will be two venues in Bogotá – Estadio El Campín and Estadio El Techo. The other venues will be the Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali.

2022 quarter-finalists Nigeria will play three-time winners Germany, Venezuela and the Republic of Korea in Group D this year.

The final, in which 24 teams will participate for the first time, will have 31 participants.^st August – 22^nd September.

GROUP A: Colombia, Australia, Cameroon, Mexico

GROUP B: France, Canada, Brazil, Fiji

GROUP C: Spain, USA, Paraguay, Morocco

GROUP D: Germany, Venezuela, Nigeria, Republic of Korea

GROUP E: Japan, New Zealand, Ghana, Austria

GROUP F: North Korea, Argentina, Costa Rica, Netherlands