Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, have received a significant lift ahead of their high-stakes World Cup encounter against China, thanks to the return of Benfica attacker Janet ‘Semenya’ Akekoromowei.
Her comeback follows an intense dispute between the national setup and the Portuguese club over her participation in the tournament. Although she was the earliest team member to reach Poland, Benfica subsequently demanded she fly back, insisting they had never authorized her release.
The Falconets sorely missed an attacking spark during their opening fixture, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against European champions Spain. With prior experience for both the senior Super Falcons and the U17 Flamingos, Semenya is now tipped to provide the clinical edge Nigeria desperately needs in front of goal.
China enters the match sitting atop the standings after dominating newcomers New Caledonia 5-0. The decisive clash is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 PM.