U20 Women’s World Cup: Japanese star ecstatic after slim victory over Nigeria

By Saheed Afolabi

Japan’s U20 star, Chinari Sasai, has expressed her delight following their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nigeria at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

The win, achieved despite a late goal from Nigeria’s dynamic midfielder Olushola Shobowale, has been a significant boost for the Japanese squad.

Sasai acknowledged the challenges posed by the Nigerian team, noting their physical strength and pace. “We knew that Nigeria is physically stronger and faster than us,” Sasai remarked.

“However, everyone stayed focused on our game plan. We managed to score the first and then the second goal. I’m very happy because this is a victory we achieved together as a team.”

The Japanese team’s ability to secure the win against the African giants has served as a major source of motivation as they continue their quest for glory in the tournament. Sasai’s performance and the team’s collective effort have been crucial in advancing their campaign.

Looking ahead, Japan will face the defending champions, Spain, in the quarterfinals on Sunday. The upcoming match promises to be a challenging test, but Sasai and her teammates are buoyed by their recent success and are ready to give their all in pursuit of further advancement in the tournament.