'We play good football' - Falconets coach praises homegrown talent

Nigeria's Falconets continued their impressive run at the ongoing 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Venezuela on Saturday night.

The win marks the tenth time the West African side have reached the knockout stage of the tournament.

Needing a positive result to advance, the Falconets, led by Chris Danjuma, started strong as Chiamaka Cristabel Okwuchukwu assisted Omowunmi Bello in scoring the opening goal in the 16th minute.

Okwuchukwu, who scored against Germany, netted Nigeria's second goal with Alani's assist in the 28th minute. Flourish Chioma Sabastine, who scored the winner against Korea Republic, added the third goal in first-half stoppage time.

The Falconets returned in the second half, maintaining their three-goal lead.

Danjuma made several changes and in additional time Joy Igbokwe added a fourth assisted by Esther Ajakaye in the second half.

Head Coach Chris Danjuma couldn't hide his pride after the match. "It's a fantastic feeling. We don't just want to win, but also to play good football," he beamed while speaking to FIFA.com.

This focus on homegrown talent adds another layer to the Falconets' success story. The team dominated by players from the Nigeria Women's Football League are not only proving their dominance but also demonstrating the strength of Nigeria's local league.

However, Coach Danjuma emphasised the importance of showcasing their skills beyond mere results. "We have a lot of talents that we want the world to see.

"This is an opportunity to see those talents because 90% of them are from the local league, they are not professionals coming from anywhere in Europe," he declared.

The Falconets now set their sights on the Round of 16, where they will face either Japan or Austria.