Nigeria needs an outstanding miracle more than the Darman Miracle obtained by her U20 boys before the Flamingoes can lift her maiden title against Japan on Saturday in the world U17 women’s football final in Morocco.
On current performance, Japan is outstanding. Japan had Jammed Zambia 5-0, floored France 2-0, vented off Venezuela 2-0, cleaned Kenya 3-1 at the round of 16 games, piped Ghana 1-0 in the quarterfinal and shocked arch rival and four times defending champions North Korea from claiming 3rd back to back titles 4-1 via penalty shootouts after 1-1 at Full-time.
Nigeria fell to Poland 1-2, beat Puerto Rico 2-0, shocked Defending champions North Korea 3-1 in last group game; stopped the Mexican waves 2-1 at the round of 16, vented off Venezuela by a lone goal in the quarterfinal and checkmated the Tiki-taka flow of Brazilian football 3-1 in the semifinal
Japan scored 14 goals conceded only 2 scored by Kenya and North Korea, and had 4 clean slates. Nigeria scored 12 goals conceded 5 and had 2 clean slates. This means that Japanese defence is more superior. Four clean slates in six matches is awesome. Only forced errors can make Nigeria win this ‘Hiroshima war’.
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Japanese Goalkeepers, are not that good. First choice Goalkeeper Kou Kadowaki made 5 saves and their 2nd choice Keeper Mikan Yamanaka made 2 saves as against Nigeria’s Tallie, Jane Ijirigho who made 17 saves. So if the Nigerian defenders can successfully protect their box from close shots or rebounds, Japan is a gonner.
There are six identified foul prone girls who should be warned not to allow penalties or bag straight red cards. Four are Nigerians namely Queen Joseph with 10 fouls, Mary Dunstan and Oluebube Umejiaku who 9 foul calls and Esther Stephen 6 foil calls. Yuka Kishida of Japan had 10 foul calls and Yotsumoto 7 foul calls.
Nigeria should watch these girls that players like to foul against Harura Matsushita has 9 records like Oluebube; Mei Hanashiro and Ani Ito 8 each while Tosin has 7. Foul them in the box and the Referee will gallantly point to the penalty spot.
Japan has two players who have 4 goals each to their names in Mei Hanashiro and Nanami Kurita only Oluebube has 3 goals on the Nigeria team. But that is an Hakuna Matata because coach Hakeem Busari likes proping up unexpected players to cause havoc. Nigeria has girls that are with killer shots like Mary Dunstan that has 20, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Mei Hanashiro has 18 each, Oluebube has 17 and these girls are as dangerous as rattle snakes in the penalty box with their goal sense.
When two Elephants fight says the wise saying the grass suffers. Late versatile Sports Commentator, Earnest Okonkwo said support motivates action and goals win matches the tension at the Mohammed VI stadium pitch 3 in Rabat on Saturday at 7:30 will likely be transferred to the stands where there is absence of Vuvuzela but the Nigerian drums and loud traditional voices of farmers call will be decoded by the players.
Japan in their 10th appearances won the title in 2014; won Silver twice in 2010 and 2016 and reached quarterfinals 6 times in 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Nigeria in their 9 appearances has no enviable record like Japan as Nigeria won Bronze in 2022, made quarterfinals 4 times in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2024 but lost at earier rounds in 2008, 2016 and 2025. That means Japan has more experiences at the party.
Japan stands now beaten Nigeria’s historic win at her first final appearances at the mundial. The match will be full of tactics. Nigeria diffused the long passes and shots at goal of Brazil. Brazilian coach was amazed at the strength of the Nigerian players who played 90 minutes as if they just played 15 minutes. No General will disclose battle strategies before war but the world awaits our future women heroine on Saturday night in Morocco.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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