NFA President Aminu Maigari has declared that confidence and total seriousness can work wonders for the Nigeria U-20 women’s team, Falconets when they confront Cup holders USA in the World Cup quarter finals on Sunday morning.

The Nigerian girls failed to hold onto a lone goal lead against Mexico in Bochum on Wednesday, and the equalizer by the Mexicans with only 12 minutes to go meant the Falconets finished as runners-up in Group C and have to face dreaded United States of America in the last eight.

“There is need for the players to have confidence, to give themselves confidence and take the match very serious. There also has to be improvement in our girls’ marksmanship. We create so many chances and end up wasting several of them.

“It is going to be a tough match no doubt. But if they play to their potential and are alert and determined for the 90 minutes duration, i believe they can overcome the Americans”, said Maigari.

The Falconets will be aiming to become the first team to stop the Americans from reaching the semi finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the competition started in Canada eight years ago.

USA lifted the trophy at the expense of host Canada in 2002, won the bronze medal in Thailand two years later, finished in fourth place in Russia four years ago and piped North Korea to win in Chile in 2008.