On Friday at 02:00 hours, Nigeria’s Falconets will take on Japan in the Round of 16 at Estadio Metropolitano Techo, Bogota.
The teams have faced each other three times before, with Japan securing a 2-1 win in 2012, Nigeria claiming a 2-1 victory in 2010, and Japan dominating 6-0 in 2016.
In the group stage, Nigeria narrowly defeated South Korea 1-0, fell 3-1 to Germany, and convincingly beat Venezuela 4-0.
Historically, Nigeria’s Falconets have been a consistent force, reaching the World Cup finals twice, both times losing to Germany (2-0 in 2010 and 1-0 in extra time in 2014). In 2012, Nigeria finished fourth after a 2-1 loss to Japan. Additionally, they’ve reached the quarterfinals five times, a feat unmatched by any other African nation. The Falconets also won gold at the 2019 All African Games.
Their recent tournament performance includes a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti, a 1-1 draw with China PR, and losses to Spain, France, and the Netherlands in 2022.
Japan, on the other hand, dominated Group E with a 7-0 win over New Zealand, a 4-1 victory against Ghana, and a 2-0 win over Austria. Earlier in 2024, Japan dismantled Vietnam 10-0, beat China PR 2-0, and outclassed Australia 5-1, though they suffered two defeats to DPR Korea.
Japan, in their seventh World Cup appearance, won the tournament in 2018 by beating Spain 2-1 in the final. They also earned bronze in 2012 after defeating Nigeria and again in 2016 by beating the USA.
Currently, Japan appears to have the upper hand, having scored 13 goals while conceding only one during the group stage. In contrast, Nigeria’s defense has shown some vulnerability, conceding three goals. Despite Japan’s technical advantage, it’s widely acknowledged that Nigerian teams, both male and female, are known for their resilience and ability to surprise.
Both teams are untested in penalties during this tournament, but the knockout stages might come down to spot kicks.
Nigerian football pundits argue that despite the Falconets being mostly local players, they have the potential to surprise, attributing their 3-1 loss to Germany to an error rather than a lack of skill.
Now, the Falconets face a crucial 90 minutes to overcome Japan and secure a spot in the quarterfinals, where they could potentially face Spain.
The knockout stages begin on Wednesday, September 11, with Spain playing Canada and Brazil facing Cameroon. On Thursday, September 12, hosts Colombia will meet South Korea, while the USA takes on Mexico. Later that day, DPR Korea will battle Austria, and Germany will face Argentina.
Nigeria’s crucial match against Japan is set for Friday, September 13, with France and the Netherlands also squaring off to conclude the Round of 16.