Falconets Fly Into Japan for World Cup.

Nigeria's Falconets will arrive in Tokyo, the enigmatic capital of Japan, on Wednesday ahead of this year’s FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup finals.

After a road trip from their Namhae Sports Park Hotel, the Falconets will fly from the Gimpo International Airport in Seoul aboard All Nippon Airways  for the six-hour trip to Tokyo.

The delegation is made up of 21 players and 11 officials, and will be led by the Chief Technical Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation, Abdul-Rafiu Yusuf, a former Nigeria international striker.

Drawn in Group B of the 19th August – 8th September finals in Japan, alongside Korea Republic, Brazil and Italy, the Falconets appear to have their work cut out, but Head Coach Edwin Okon said  the team had nothing to fear.

“Our pedigree and current capacity stand us in good stead. As vice champions of the world, we fear no team. If the 2010 squad could finish in second place, beating USA along the way, there is no team here in Japan that we will not be able to confront with good measure of confidence,” said Okon.

The former Super Falcons’ assistant Coach steered his girls through a brainstorming African qualifying campaign in which they scored 13 goals and conceeded none in four matches.

The Falconets play Korea Republic at 6pm Japan time on Sunday at the Saitama World Cup Stadium, the same venue where they confront Brazil on Wednesday, 22nd August. Their final group phase match is against Italy at the Kobe World Cup Stadium on Sunday, 26th August.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has finalized arrangements with the Nigerian Embassy in Tokyo to have the girls served Nigerian food on some of their free days, in order for them to feel home away from home.