…Cameroon, Benin also with advantage; Ghana on tight rope
Nigeria’s U-20 girls, Falconets, have appeared at every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals since the competition came into being, as an U19 tournament, in 2002. The Falconets were at Canada 2002 and Thailand 2006 (the two tournaments were for U19 players). It became an U20 competition before the 2006 finals in Russia, where Nigeria also featured. They were also at Chile 2008, Germany 2010, Japan 2012, Canada 2014, Papua New Guinea 2016, France 2018, Costa Rica 2022 and Colombia 2024.
As Poland 2026, the two-time finalists (Germany 2010 and Canada 2014) and one-time semi finalists (Japan 2012) look determined to maintain their consistency in being at every final tournament.
On Saturday, the Falconets take on the Malawi U20 girls at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg played in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday last week. Nigeria’s delegation arrived in Malawi’s second city on Wednesday, and head coach Moses Aduku confirmed the team’s readiness to clinch the ticket to Poland.
Speaking during the official pre-match press conference on Friday, Head Coach Moses Aduku expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and determination to secure qualification. “We are here to play and to win. The players understand the importance of this match, and we are fully prepared mentally, tactically, and physically for the challenge ahead.”
The Falconets’ technical crew reviewed the team’s recent performances and emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration and intensity throughout the encounter. While the team has demonstrated strong second-half performances in recent matches, preparations have also focused on improving early-game efficiency and converting scoring opportunities sooner. Aduku noted that training sessions in camp have been specifically designed to sharpen attacking coordination, strengthen defensive organization, and ensure the players remain fully prepared for the demands of the crucial encounter.
The return-leg fixture will take place on Saturday, 9th May, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00pm Malawi time (2:00pm Nigeria time).
The Coach Moses Aduku-led ladies swept past Rwanda and Senegal on their way to this final round, with the East Africans falling 0-5 on aggregate while the West Africans lost 1-3 on aggregate.
In other fixtures, Ghana play away in Kampala against Uganda’s U20 girls, who restricted them to a 2-1 win in Accra last Saturday, while Cameroon hold a 3-1 advantage over Tanzania’s girls as both clash in Dar es Salaam.
Benin Republic will fancy their chances as they host Cote d’Ivoire, with the first leg in Abidjan having ended in a 1-1 draw.
