By Akeem Lawal

Nigeria U-20 female team, the Falconets have a chance to write their names in the history book of football, as they take on France today in the quarter final of the on-going FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Chile 2008.

Nigeria is the only African side to have participated at all three previous editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: 2002 (Canada), 2004 (Thailand) and 2006 (Russia) but have a record of reaching the quarter final stage at the 2004 edition when the Falconets were narrowly beaten by winners Germany in a penalty shootout (5-4) after the match had ended 1-1.

Nigeria sealed top spot in Group A of the current edition after a 2-0 win over eliminated hosts Chile in Temuco on Wednesday.

The Nigerians, who finished with seven points from two wins and a draw, has an up-hill task against France, who were runners up in Group B behind England.

Nigerians are hopeful that the ladies will continue to do well and not go the way of the other female national teams that failed the country in the other competitions.

It would be recalled that the female U-17 team, the Flamingoes failed to qualify from the group stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, while the Super Falcons’ reign as African Champions came to an end when the team lost 1-0 to host, Equatorial Guinea in the Semi-final of the 2008 Africa Women Championship.