Japan U-17 Women’s Team captain Honoka Yotsumoto says the players are determined to win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title when they face Nigeria’s Flamingos in Saturday’s final in Morocco.
The Japanese team, coached by Sadayoshi Shirai, has won all six matches in the tournament. However, the players must overcome one final challenge against Nigeria to make history.
Japan impressed throughout the competition, beating several strong opponents, including Ghana and North Korea.
Now, the team hopes to maintain its winning run and lift the trophy for the first time.
Yotsumoto says the players are confident after overcoming challenges during the tournament.
She told FIFA that the team had gradually broken through barriers that had previously prevented it from reaching its goals.
According to the captain, those achievements have strengthened the players’ belief ahead of the final.
“We’ve managed to overcome barriers that had held us back for so long, one step at a time – that has given us a lot of confidence,” she said.
She added that the team now has only one match left to complete its mission.
“Now we have just one more match to win, and we’re determined to make history,” Yotsumoto told FIFA.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flamingos will aim to stop Japan and claim the trophy themselves.
The final presents an opportunity for both teams to make history as they compete for the prestigious youth women’s football title.
Japan U-17 Women’s Team will now look to turn its impressive run into a historic World Cup triumph against Nigeria’s Flamingos.
