Nigeria’s female youth national team, Falconets’ striker, Ramotalahi Olaitan Kareem is talking tough ahead of the squad’s potentially explosive clash with England at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, as she declared that they are ready for the game.
Sports247 reports that the squad is buoyed by memories of how Nigeria defeated England en route to a spot in the 2010 competition’s final, which they lost to Germany, while still basking in the euphoria of their stunning 10-1 demolition of New Caledonia.
Kareem, who hit a hat-trick during that encounter (17th minute penalty, 27th and 64th), led the way for other goals for Moses Aduku’s team from Rebecca Adegbemile (19, 74), Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei (23), Winner Onajite David (pen 60, 75) and Tosin Rafiu (70).
The Falconets dominated from the outset and made the breakthrough when Rafiu tricked her way past three opponents to win a penalty, which Kareem converted, after which headers from Adegbemile and Akekoromowei took the game beyond New Caledonia.
Kareem soon added a fourth for Aduku’s squad, then sealed her hat-trick, while David and Adegbemile completed their braces, following which Rafiu scored a beauty from outside the box, all setting tongues wagging in Poland, with many fans now tipping Nigeria to shock England.
As Thursday’s game draws closer, Kareem has affirmed that she and her colleagues have nothing to be scared of, as the 18-year-old rising star, whose birthday is on October 12th, declared emphatically that all the players in Aduku’s team are eager to floor England.
“We hope to achieve great things now that we’ve got through the group stage. I’m really pleased with my hat-trick. My job is to score goals and helping the team made me happy.
“We’re ready for the match against England. We’ll prepare as well as we possibly can for the Round of 16 against a strong side,” declared Kareem, who plays for Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt.
Sports247 reports further that, before winning the Visa Player of the Match after her hat-trick against New Caledonia, Kareem earlier won the top scorer award with four goals WAFU B U20 Girls Championship, including Nigeria’s opening goal in their final win against Benin Republic.
