U20 Women’s World Cup: Uzoma recount Inspiration Behind Win Against England
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria U20 women’s national team goalkeeper, Christiana Uzoma has narrated the motivation behind their famous 3-0 win against England in the round of 16 of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
The Falconets ran riot against the Young Lionesses with goals coming from Tosin Rafiu, Janet Akekoromowei and substitute, Mary Mamudu at the Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biala, Poland.
Uzoma was also instrumental to the win the penalty save she made in the first half to deny Rachel Maltby from eight yards.
The Falconets shot stopper said the players had a ritual team belief to engineer a win against England because they despise going home early after scaling past the group stage.
“We have told ourselves that we just want to win. We don’t want to go home, and we came out with determination,” she told the Press after the game against England.
Uzoma stated, Nigeria team are equal and optimistic to the task ahead while having an unshakable boldness of reaching the final of the World U20 women’s showpiece.
“We have confidence that we are going to make it to the final, and we can achieve it.”
She however relate a message the fans to keep all hopes alive and cheer the Falconets to success.
“Keep praying for us, don’t give up on us, and we love you all.”
Nigeria have scored 13 goals, conceded three goals and recorded two clean sheets in four matches.
The last time the Falconets reached the quarter final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup was in 2022 where they lost 2-0 to Netherlands on August 22, 2022 at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, located in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
