FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: China coach reveals how he plans to stop Nigeria's Falconets

China U-20 women's head coach Wang Jun has admitted Nigeria's Falconets will pose a serious challenge as both teams prepare for an important FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Group F showdown in Poland.

After opening their campaign with an emphatic 5-0 victory over New Caledonia, China will face a Nigerian side desperate to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to Spain.

The high-stakes encounter at Arena Sosnowiec on Thursday could have a major impact on the race for a place in the knockout stage.

China made a statement in their opening fixture, overwhelming tournament debutants New Caledonia with an impressive attacking display.

Huang Jiaxin stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, while Yafei Xiao and Xinyi Zhou also got on the scoresheet as China secured one of the tournament's biggest opening-day victories.

The convincing win leaves Wang Jun's side brimming with confidence ahead of their meeting with Nigeria.

Despite the dominant performance, Wang Jun admitted his team needed tactical adjustments after an impatient first half.

The Chinese coach said introducing two forwards after the break helped unlock their attacking potential and bring the team's strategy to life.

“During half-time, we brought on two forward players because, in the first half, we were a little bit in a hurry,” Wang Jun told FIFA.

He expressed satisfaction with how his players executed the plan in the second half, particularly praising Huang Jiaxin and Chen for showcasing their strengths.

Wang Jun believes pace could prove decisive. “In the next match, we will face Nigeria, and we will try to use our speed to win the match,” he said.

For Nigeria, Thursday's fixture carries enormous significance. The Falconets entered the tournament hoping to challenge for another deep run but suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match.

That result means Moses Aduku's side must produce a positive response against China to keep qualification hopes firmly alive before their final group game against New Caledonia.

With Nigeria boasting a proud history of reaching the U-20 Women's World Cup final twice, the Falconets will hope experience and resilience can help them overcome one of Group F's toughest opponents.