Canada is touted as favourites to win the group. (Photo: Canada Soccer)
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup begins on August 10, with 16 teams competing to become the winners of the coveted prize. Group C consists of Canada, France, Nigeria and South Korea.
Canada
Canada has been the previous Olympic and CONCACAF champion and are looking to shine in the younger youth levels. The squad varies in experience, with even some of the squad having played in the Canadian National Team.
With most players competing in the US collegiate system, they can easily adapt to playing tough opposition. They will be looking to shine immensely in the midfield and forward line.
“We know that the experience of competing and being exposed to different styles of play is critical for our young players development,” head coach Cindy Tye said.
“It will be a great opportunity for this age group to be tested on the international stage and we can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach: Cindy Tye
Goalkeepers:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #1 | Anna Karpenko | Harvard Crimson |
| #20 | Sierra Giogio | Syracuse Orange |
| #21 | Coralie Lallier | NDC-CDN Quebec |
Defenders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #3 | Mia Pante | Texas A&M Aggies |
| #4 | Jade Rose | Harvard Crimson |
| #5 | Annika Leslie | West Virginia Mountaineers |
| #12 | Vivianne Bessette | South Florida Bulls |
| #14 | Brooklyn Courtnall | USC Trojans |
| #15 | Elisabeth Tse | SMU Mustangs |
Midfielders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #2 | Zoe Burns | USC Trojans |
| #6 | Maya Ladhani | Avaldsnes |
| #8 | Sonia Walk | Boston College Eagles |
| #10 | Nikayla Small | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
| #13 | Simi Awujo | USC Trojans |
| #16 | Keera Melenhurst | Pittsburgh Panthers |
| #17 | Holly Ward | Texas Longhorns |
| #18 | Olivia Smith | Florida State Seminoles |
Forwards:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #7 | Florianne Jourde | NDC-CDN Quebec |
| #9 | Miya Grant-Clavijo | Brown Bears |
| #11 | Kaila Novak | UCLA Bruins |
| #19 | Serita Thurton | South Florida Bulls |
Player to Watch: Miya Grant-Clavijo
Miya Grant-Clavijo had an impressive season with Brown University, playing 16 games, scoring four times and adding an assist to her name. Previously representing the Canadian U-17 team, she led Brown University to the Ivy League title.
With money starting to flow in the American league, she is hoping to stand up above the rest. Grant-Clavijo has no trouble striking the ball from anywhere on the pitch. She is a force to watch, as the opposition won’t know whether she is shooting or faking a shot to get closer to the net.
Previous Results in the U-20 World Cup
2002: Runners-Up
2004: Quarterfinals
2006: Group Stage
2008: Group Stage
2012: Group Stage
2014: Quarterfinals
2016: Group Stage
France
France will be confident heading into the tournament, finishing fourth place in 2018.
“The World Cup is going to be very tough and our group is the best example of that. At the top level, when you don’t have discipline or rigor, you can’t do it. The girls know it,” coach Sonia Haziraj explained.
“The World Cup will be very competitive and our group is the best example of this.
“At the top level, when you don’t have discipline or rigor, you can’t do it. The girls know it. We don’t waste time on the pitch, we want to start our matches hard and fast to hurt the opponent.
“We’re still going to work defensively because I’ve seen mistakes, particularly in the line-up, mutual coverage, but we have talented and versatile elements.”
Head Coach: Sonia Haziraj
Goalkeepers:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #1 | Marie-Morgane Sieber | Rodez |
| #16 | Marie Petiteau | Saint-Malo |
| #21 | Oceane Toussaint | PSG |
Defenders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #2 | Celina Ould Hocine | Paris FC |
| #3 | Lou Bogaert | Paris FC |
| #4 | Alice Sombath | Lyon |
| #5 | Kysha Sylla | Lyon |
| #14 | Annaelle Tchakounte | Paris FC |
| #15 | Thiniba Samoura | Paris FC |
| #18 | Jade Le Guilly | PSG |
Midfielders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #6 | Cyrielle Blanc | Montpellier |
| #8 | Laurina Fazer (c) | PSG |
| #10 | Magnaba Folquet | PSG |
| #17 | Oceane Hurtre | PSG |
| #20 | Megane Hoeltzel | Strasbourg |
Forwards:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #7 | Esther Mbakem-Niaro | Montpellier |
| #9 | Hawa Sangare | PSG |
| #11 | Vicki Becho | Lyon |
| #12 | Jade Nassi | Nantes |
| #13 | Yrma Mze Issa | Marseille |
| #19 | Manssita Traore | PSG |
Player to Watch: Laurina Frazer
The experienced French captain, Laurina Frazer will be a player keep your eyes on this tournament. She can easily control the midfield by herself, and is always at the centre of the play in both defence and attack.
Not appearing much last season for PSG, she has spent time working and learning off some of the best players. Frazer will be looking to showcase everything that she has developed. An impressive tournament could secure a place in the PSG for the upcoming season.
Previous Results in the U-20 World Cup
2002: Group Stage
2006: Quarterfinals
2008: Fourth Place
2010: Group Stage
2014: Third Place
2016: Runners-Up
2018: Fourth Place
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Nigeria
The Nigerian Falconets qualified for the U-20 Women’s World Cup as one of the two African nations, alongside Ghana. Reaching the quarterfinals last time the tournament was played in 2018, they will be hoping for a similar result this time round.
As most of the squad is made up of players who play for their local clubs in Nigeria, they will be looking to surprise the rest of their group.
They boast good defenders and attackers, but their midfield may be their weak link. If they are able to find the right team chemistry in the midfield, they will make it past the group stage with ease.
Head Coach: Christopher Danjuma
Goalkeepers:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #1 | Omini Oyono | Bayelsa Queens FC |
| #16 | Nelly Ekeh | Sunshine Queens FC |
| #21 | Nkiruka Obidinma | Edo Queens FC |
Defenders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #2 | Chidimma Ogbuchi | FC Robo Queens |
| #5 | Blessing Demehin | Rivers Angels FC |
| #6 | Omowumi Oshobukola | Edo Queens FC |
| #12 | Oluchi Ohaegbulem | Confluence Queens FC |
| #14 | Rofiat Imuran | Rivers Angels FC |
| #17 | Jumoke Alani | Edo Queens FC |
| #18 | Motunrayo Ezekiel | Niger Ratels |
Midfielders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #3 | Philomina Yina | Nasarawa Amazons FC |
| #4 | Deborah Abiodun | Rivers Angels FC |
| #8 | Esther Onyenezide | FC Robo Queens |
| #11 | Bashirat Amoo | Nasarawa Amazons FC |
| #15 | Chimoa Olise | Edo Queens FC |
| #19 | Mercy Kalu | Nasarawa Amazons FC |
Forwards:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #7 | Chiamaka Okwuchukwu | Rivers Angels FC |
| #9 | Flourish Sebastine | N/A |
| #10 | Blessing Okpe | Rivers Angles FC |
| #13 | Mercy Idoko | Nasarawa Amazons FC |
| #20 | Joy Jerry | Bayelsa Queens FC |
Player to Watch: Flourish Sebastine
Currently uncontracted and without a club, Flourish Sebastine is looking to shine in the tournament and show her worth. The striker will lead the Nigerian side in attack as they try and defeat the other teams in their group.
Sebastine is known for her shooting ability but is just as good off the ball then with it. Without the ball, she places pressure on the opposing team’s defence. With the ball she offers a clean strike, and a near certain goal from her opportunities.
Previous Results in the U-20 World Cup
2002: Group Stage
2004: Quarterfinals
2006: Quarterfinals
2008: Quarterfinals
2010: Runners-Up
2012: Fourth Place
2014: Runners-Up
2016: Group Stage
2018: Quarterfinals
South Korea
Originally a 24-women squad, coach Hwang In-soo has had a tough time choosing which players to take to Costa Rica.
South Korea has previously made the quarterfinals, and will be hoping for the same heroics this time around.
An inexperienced side that haven’t played with each other, South Korea has a lot to live up to if it is to make it out of the group stage. The nation will have to rely on their older players to lead the way and mentor the younger players.
Head Coach: Hwang In-soo
Goalkeepers:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #1 | Yoonji Do | Dankook University |
| #18 | Kyeonghee Kim | Changnyeong WFC |
| #21 | Seobin Woo | Pohang Girls’ Electronic HS |
Defenders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #2 | Hyeonjin Been | Uiduk University |
| #3 | Jungyeon Lee | Uiduk University |
| #4 | Minji Kim | Daaduk College |
| #5 | Suin Lee | Korea University |
| #6 | Dayeon Lee | Daaduk College |
| #16 | Dain Han | Korea University |
| #20 | Haywon Mun | Kangwon Provincial University |
Midfielders:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #7 | Myeongjin Kim | Korea University |
| #8 | Eunji Kim | Ulsan University |
| #12 | Seran Lee | Korea University |
| #14 | Yebin Bae | Pohang Girls’ Electronic HS |
| #19 | Chaeeun Won | Ulsan Huyandai High School FC |
Forwards:
| Number | Player Name | Club |
| #9 | Yuna Go | Ulsan University |
| #10 | Garama Chun | Ulsan University |
| #11 | Eunyoung Lee | Korea University |
| #13 | Dayeong Ko | Daaduk College |
| #15 | Hyeonmin Seo | Korea University |
| #17 | Yugyeong Jeon | Pohang Girls’ Electronic HS |
Previous Results in the U-20 World Cup
2004: Group Stage
2010: Third Place
2012: Quarterfinals
2014: Quarterfinals
2016: Group Stage
Group C Fixture
1. France vs Nigeria (Friday 12 August – 9:00am AEST)
2. Canada vs South Korea (Friday 12 August – 12:00pm AEST)
3. South Korea vs Nigeria (Monday 15 August – 6:00am AEST)
4. France vs Canada (Monday 15 August – 12:00pm AEST)
5. South Korea vs France (Thursday 18 August – 12:00pm AEST)
6. Nigeria vs Canada (Thursday 18 August – 12:00pm AEST)
Predicted Group Finish
| MP | Win | Draw | Loss | Points | |
| Canada | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| France | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| South Korea | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
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