What Must Coach Chris Danjuma Do To Down and Defeat Japan in Friday's U-20 Women's World Cup Second Round Fixture?

Coach Chris Danjuma must somehow fashion an approach that would utilise Nigeria’s physicality to neutralise Japan’ tiki-taka brand of football in Friday's make or mar round of 16 fixture.

Playing a high-line will doom Nigeria. Weakness in 1v1s particularly down the flanks will be harmful. Wastefulness in front of goal will be punished. And playing like pregnant women against marauding lightning-quick Japan wingers and defenders will be detrimental and second-rate aerial abilities will punished.

Other than that and then some, Japan are very beatable.

Unleash Flourish Sebastian and Chiamaka Osigwe down the flanks with Chiamaka Okwuchukwu as the centre forward and you already have a killer duo. Japan must be stopped from regularly getting into their rhythm and groove. Hence Yina Adoo and Chioma Olise have to be boiling hot on the night (where is Deborah Abiodun when you need her?). Alani and Imuran must allow as few crosses as possible from the flanks with support from wingers and defensive midifielders.

Danjuma has no excuse and nowhere, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Japan must fall. If he achieves this, it will be his crowning glory to date as Flamingos coach across 3 world cups.

We have to make our physicality count, if not, Japan will overrun us and runaway as winners. We have to be neat and tidy in tackles and not give away needless freekicks in dangerous areas. We (again) have to take our chances, selfishness will be our undoing but players in score-able positions have to be brave, take initiative and not shirk goal scoring opportunities (a sense of balance is required as to when to pass or when to shoot).

The fitness trainer must recommend only the fittest girls. Smeh-smeh (sluggishness) anywhere on the pitch will be punished mercilessly by Japan.

This is such a monumental and mouthwatering encounter. Finesse football (with style, imagination, creativity, eloquence and a killer instinct) vs Physical football (with brute force, speed, physicality, and moderate cutting edge). Which side will prevail?