Nigeria Emerge as Favourites to Host U-20 Women World Cup

Nigeria Emerge as Favourites to Host U-20 Women World Cup.

By Adejuyigbe olorunfemi

Nigeria have come out top as favourites to host the first Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup in Africa, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Bsnsports.com.ng reports

Back in August, the country's facilities were inspected in proposed cities such as Lagos, Asaba, Uyo; by a Fifa inspection team led by Heyral Kaj Jurgen.

The FIFA Women's World Cup tournament has never been hosted in Africa as Nigeria may become the first, even as they are favorites to host it.

"We've received words from Fifa about areas we need to improve on to win the race to host in 2020," a top official of the NFF told BBC Sport.

"There's a strong assurance that we are now favourites to host and we have a few months to make it happen."

Nigeria, on the men side have hosted the Under-20 World Cup in 1999 and the Under-17 world cup tournament.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo gave the assurance that the Nigerian government is fully behind the plans and will give it all it takes.

"The Government of Nigeria guarantees to back the bid 100 per cent," Osinbajo said.

"We are actually excited with the prospect of hosting the Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup in 2020.

"For us, football is a unifying force. Government interest in hosting is beyond commercial; football is a measure of unity and well-being of our people as diverse as we are."
Nigeria has now joined the likes USA, Germany and Brazil, as countries to have participated in every World Under-20 tournament since it started in 2002.

The Falconets reached the final in 2010 and 2014, but lost to Germany on both occasions.