Falconets of Nigeria in the early hours of Friday bowed 1-2 to the hi tech Japanese soccer power1-2 at the round if 16 matches at Bogota  just as she bowed 1-2 to Japan 12 years ago in the 3rd place match of the same tournament
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Miya Uhihara scored the first goal for Japan in the 33rd minute before sleekly Maya Hijakata made it 2-0 in the 65th minute. That was her 4th goal in the games. 

Nigeria left the struggles late into the game when Olushola Shobowale sliced through the Japanese defence to score in the added time of 90+1 minute. Japan played from hell in the 7 minutes added time as Nigeria laid siege in their territory but the defence of Japan helped by the attackers who withdrew into defence survived the onslaught.
Photo by Eniola Olatunji: Japan celebrates with their coach as Ref Ivana Martincie of Croatia blew the last whistle.

Japan showed class at the beginning forcing the Nigerian defenders to make 12-5 interceptions; Nigeria squandered 6-3 corner kicks advantage and the Japanese were generally better with 57-43% ball possession; stringing 475-346 passes with 381-236  accurate passes making one feel the Nigerians do not know the difference between their white jersey and the dark blue of Japan. 

Many Nigerians could not watch the match as most were deprived of power supply from public power supply or had to go to bed so as not to miss work on Friday.

It is interesting that we shall have a replay of the last world cup final when Spain spanked Japan 3-1 at San Jose under the watch of Ref Emikar Calderas of Venezuela.  That will be in the quarterfinals  at midnight of Sunday 15th September to enter into Monday.  

Nigeria and Japan met thrice on 8th September 2012 when Nigeria lost 1-2; on 12th July 2010 when Nigeria won 2-1 and 13th November 2016 that Japan whipped Nigeria 6-0.

Nigeria piped South Korea by a lone goal; submitted to Germany 1-3 and outwitted Venezuela 4-0 in the group games.

Nigeria had beaten Haiti by a lone goal; drew 1-1 with China PR; lost 1-2 to Spain; lost by a lone goal to France; beat Canada 3-1 in the 2022 games and lost 0-2 to Netherlands also in the 2022 games. 

The Falconets of Nigeria has been in all the eleven tournaments losing in the finals to hosts Germany in 2010 by 2-0; lost the finals again to Germany in 2014 by a lone goal after extra time; lost the Bronze to Japan by 2-1 when Japan hosted in 2012. Nigeria lost to Germany on the two occasions she was Runners-up. Nigeria was stopped 5 times at the quarterfinal stages whereas no other African Country reached the quarterfinal. Nigeria’s Falconets won Gold at the 2019 All African Games Football.

Nigeria on 12th August 2022 lost to France 0-1; defeated South Korea by a lone goal on 14th August 2022; defeated Canada 3-1 on 18th August 2022 and lost to Netherlands 0-2 on 21st August 2022. Japan in the group matches of group E defeated New Zealand 7-0; beat Ghana 4-1 and unsettled Austria 2-0. 

Japan tutored Vietnam 10-0 on 4th March 2024; beat China PR 2-0 on 7th March 2024; lost by a lone goal to DPR Korea on 10th March 2024; whipped Australia 5-1 on 13th March 2024 and lost again to to DPR Korea 1-2 on 16th March 2024.

The Young Nadeshiko of Japan is in their 7th appearances at the world cup won the title at France 2018 beating Spain 2-1; hosted the games in 2012 and won the Bronze defeating Nigeria 2-1; won the Bronze again at Papua New Guinea in 2016 beating USA by a lone goal and at the last games at Costa Rica 2022 she lost in the finals 1-3 to Spain. 

Netherlands came from behind to oust France 1-3 in a match that had to go into extra time. Juliette Moss scored for France in the 33rd minute but Jet Van Beijeren equalized for Netherlands in the 59th minute before Fleur Stoit brought the stunner that laid France to rest in the 103rd minute. 

France will meet Hosts Columbia on Sunday at 2230 hours in the quarterfinals at Cali.
Here is the quarterfinal pairing: 
1. USA versus German at Cali on 16th Monday September at 0200 hours.
2. Brazil versus North Korea on 15th September at Medellin at 2030 Hours.
3. Spain versus Japan at Medellin on Monday 16th September at midnight.
4. Colombia versus France on 15th September at Cali at 2230 hours.