Training Match vs U-17 Nigeria National Team
Sun. 20 October 2019 15:30 (Local time) Match duration 90mins (45minsｘ2)
CFA Cotia, Brazil

U-17 Japan National Team 1-0 (1-0, 0-0) U-17 Nigeria National Team

Scores
22' NAKANO Keita (U-17 Japan National Team)

Starting Line-up
GK: NOZAWA Taishi Brandon
DF: HATA Taiga, SUZUKI Kaito, MURAKAMI Yosuke, NAKANO Shinya
MF: TAMURA Souki, FUJITA Joel Chima, TANAKA Satoshi, NAKANO Keita
FW: TOYAMA Shoji, WAKATSUKI Yamato

Reserves
GK: SUZUKI Zion, SASAKI Masato
DF: SUMI Kohshiro, HANDA Riku
MF: YAMAUCHI Kakeru, NARUOKA Hikaru, MITSUDA Shuto, MITO Shunsuke, YOKOKAWA Asahi
FW: NISHIKAWA Jun

Substitutions
30' NOZAWA Taishi Brandon → SASAKI Masato
HT SUZUKI Kaito → HANDA Riku
HT NAKANO Shinya → YAMAUCHI Kakeru
60' SASAKI Masato → SUZUKI Zion
74' WAKATSUKI Yamato → MITSUDA Shuto
74' HATA Taiga → SUMI Kohshiro
79' NAKANO Keita → NARUOKA Hikaru
79' TAMURA Souki → MITO Shunsuke
79' TOYAMA Shoji → NISHIKAWA Jun
79' FUJITA Joel Chima → YOKOKAWA Asahi

Match Report

On Sunday 20 October, the U-17 Japan National Team played a training match against the U-17 Nigeria National Team in Sao Paulo to prepare for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019.

The training match was arranged to give Japan the opportunity to face an African side ahead of the World Cup to simulate their third group stage match against Senegal. Although the match saw Japan taking the initiative in the early minutes, the first close opportunity was created by Nigeria, as a shot taken from midrange struck the cross bar of the Japanese goal. Japan responded in the 16th minute, when FUJITA Joel Chima delivered a pass to HATA Taiga, who sent a cross towards the centre. It was TOYAMA Shoji who connected with this delivery, but his shot went off the cross bar. With Japan picking up the pace, the opening goal came in the 22nd minute, when NAKANO Keita struck a shot after receiving a cross from Hata. Japan took full control of the match following this goal, but no further goals were scored in the half, as the match entered halftime with a score of 1-0.

The level of competition picked up in the second half, as the Nigerian side showed more intensity in their attacks, while Japan kept their composure to create opportunities through their quick ball movements. With both sides showcasing great efforts in defence, the score remained the same until the final whilst, giving Japan the 1-0 victory.

The U-17 Japan National Team will continue to train in Sao Paulo for the next two days, before making their ways to the match site of the World Cup.

Players' Comments

GK ＃12 NOZAWA Taishi Brandon (FC Tokyo U-18)
This match gave us a great opportunity to simulate our match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. However, the real match will be played with more intensity and pressure, so we must continue to work hard as a team to prepare ourselves in the best possible way ahead of the tournament. The World Cup has been my ultimate goal since day one, so I will do whatever it takes to help the team and give my best efforts to leave no regrets.

DF #4 NAKANO Shinya (Sagan Tosu U-18)
We are gradually getting used to the environment in Brazil. With less than one week ahead of our first group stage match against the Netherlands, we hope to improve our conditions, both as a team and as individuals. The Rugby World Cup has given us great energy, so we hope to play with great confidence at our World Cup.

MF #6 FUJITA Joel Chima (Tokyo Verdy Youth)
The Nigeria National Team has shown their superiority in speed through this match. Every time we held onto the ball too long, they closed down the gap very quickly, which gave us a hard time at first, but we managed to evade the pressure by adjusting our distance between each other. I am sure that we will be facing much tougher matches at the tournament, so we hope to prepare ourselves in the best way possible ahead of the tournament.

Schedule

*JFA Technical Director SEKIZUKA Takashi will attend team from Sat. 26 October to Sun. 3 November.
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019

Tournament Duration: Sat. 26 October - Sun. 17 November 2019

Group Stage:
Mon. 28 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Netherlands National Team

Thu. 31 October 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 USA National Team

Sun. 3 November 2019 8:00 (Japan Time)
vs U-17 Senegal National Team

Tournament Information