Spotlight on Nigeria, Ghana on Day 2 in Costa Rica

Enter the reigning champions, the joint-record three-time winners and the group of death. Matchday 2 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ promises much. Catch the action live on SuperSport.

Fixtures

Thursday (Kick-off times local)

Group C
- France-Nigeria – 17:00, Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose
- Canada-Korea Republic – 20:00, Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose

Group D
- Ghana-USA – 11:00, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
- Japan-Netherlands – 14:00, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela

TALKING POINTS

Four major forces In women’s youth football will assemble in a deadly pool. The likes of Christine Sinclair, Eugenie Le Sommer, Ji Soyun and Asisat Oshoala illuminated this tournament for Canada, France, Korea Republic and Nigeria respectively. Can their superstars of tomorrow help them move towards the knockout phase?

Japan did it the hard way at the last FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, downing USA, Germany, England and Spain en route to gold. The Young Nadeshiko face another uphill struggle in their quest to retain the crown. With the mighty USA to play in their final Group D outing, Japan will want to put points on the board early. Getting them against the Netherlands, whose emergence at youth and senior level in recent years has been startling, won’t be easy.

She turned pro at 13, became the youngest player in NWSL history at 15 and its youngest markswoman in June. So just how good is 16-year-old US mega-prospect Olivia Moultrie?

STATS

39 - In the knockout phase of the Concacaf qualifying tournament for Costa Rica 2022, Michelle Cooper hit seven goals – one every 39 minutes of action on average.

7 - Mukarama Abdulai won the adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018™. The Ghanaian registered seven goals and two assists in just four appearances.

0 - The holders have never crashed out at the group stage, while the defending champions have never retained their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title. Japan will be desperate to avoid the former and achieve the latter.

QUOTES

“This is a dream come true for all of us. We want to make all Nigerians proud and bring the World Cup to Nigeria.”Deborah Abiodun, Nigeria midfielder

“We have a challenging group in Costa Rica and tremendous respect for the three other teams, but we also have a staff and players who embrace challenges and adversity. For a young player, there’s nothing like playing in a World Cup. You can’t replicate it.” - Tracey Kevins, USA coach.