FIFA U-20 Women's WC: Nigeria's team held up as 'redeemers'

Image by LA Wad via Flickr

Executive Committee of the Nigeria Olympic Committee - Desperate for soccer glory after the woeful performance of the Super Eagles at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nigerians were Friday hailing the country's team for reaching the final of the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Germany.

The team, tagged the Falconets, pipped hard-fighting Colombia 1-0 to become the first African team to reach the final of the global tournament, and will take on host Germany in the final on Sunday.

Coming right after the 2010 FIFA World Cup debacle, local newspapers Friday play ed up the Falconets' victory, saying it would go a long way to redeem the country's football image that was battered by the Super Eagles, which failed to advance beyond the first round in South Africa.

'Redeeming Nigeria's image...' was the caption of a picture - of lone goal sco rer Ebere Orji - published by THISDAY newspaper Friday. The newspaper's story on the match was headlined 'Falconets fly on to the final'.

'Our Falconets are history makers' (NEXT); 'Orji shoots Falconets into final' (SUN); Falconets zoom into FIFA U-20 Women's WC finals (LEADERSHIP) and 'Falconets in historic final, beat Colombia 1-0 (Guardian) were some of the other headlines.

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