Abuja – The Nigerian under-20 women football team, the Falconets, on Thursday arrived in Freetown ahead of the return leg match of their 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.

The team’s Media Officer, Elizabeth Kah who disclosed this in a telephone interview, said the players were fully prepared for the match.

The Falconets

She said the team had its first training session at the Sierra Leone National Stadium after arrival.

Kah said 18 of the 24 players invited to the camp were on the trip for the return leg match, alongside some officials.

“We had 24 players in camp, but the 18 which dressed for the first leg match in Abuja were selected, with three coaches, the team co-ordinator and manager.

“Other members of the team in Sierra Leone, aside from me the media officer, are five officials of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA),’’ she said.

Kah expressed optimism that the Falconets would make the country proud by replicating what they did during the first leg match in Abuja.

The Falconets had beaten Sierra Leone 10-0 during the first leg match played at the Abuja National Stadium on Oct. 26, with Uchechi Sunday scoring five goals.

The media officer said the team had two more qualifying matches to play before securing the ticket to the World Cup.

“We hope to consolidate on our win in Abuja, as the girls are fully prepared for the match and we pray that we will excel.

“However, we have two more qualifiers to play. Though it does appear we will either play Morocco or Tunisia, but we are not sure of the country yet.

“We are still waiting for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to name the country, because it is yet to release the full calendar for the games. But we are sure this will be in December,’’ she said.

NAN reports that the return leg match between the Falconets and their Sierra Leonean hosts is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. Nigerian time.(NAN)