Nigeria’s Falconets are halfway to Poland. A 2-0 first-leg win over Malawi in Ikenne puts them in command — and they are not the only WAFU B side on the brink of something historic.
Africa has four tickets to hand out for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Based on the first-leg results across the continent, West Africa’s Zone B could end up claiming all four of them.
Nigeria, Ghana, and one of either Benin Republic or Ivory Coast are all in strong positions heading into the decisive return legs on May 9 and 10. A clean sweep by WAFU B would be one of the most striking results in the history of African women’s youth football.
How the Falconets Did It in Ikenne
Nigeria’s first leg against Malawi at the Remo Stars Stadium on May 2 was a study in first-half dominance and second-half execution. The Falconets controlled the ball, created chances, and pinned Malawi back for long spells — but Malawi goalkeeper Emily Nkhwazi was exceptional, keeping the score level at the break.
The deadlock broke just 46 seconds into the second half. A dangerous cross into the Malawi box caused confusion in their defence, and Maureen Kenneth turned the ball into her own net under pressure. Ifeanyi Kindness doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, rounding the goalkeeper calmly before rolling it into the empty net. Nigeria came home 2-0 winners, and coach Moses Adukwu’s team will travel to Lilongwe on May 9 knowing that a draw is enough to confirm qualification. Supporters following the Falconets’ campaign can check the Bet9ja YOHAIG promo code ahead of the Lilongwe return leg.
The Remo Stars Bonus
Remo Stars FC chairman Kunle Soname had promised the Falconets 500,000 naira for every goal scored on his club’s pitch. Both goals arrived in the second half, and Soname duly paid out one million naira to the squad after the final whistle.
It was a gesture that reflected the spirit around the tie. The first leg was played at a stadium built by a man who has made supporting Nigerian football a personal mission, and the Falconets rewarded him — and the fans in the stands — with a professional, controlled performance.
Ghana and the Battle in Kampala
Ghana’s Black Princesses have work to do, but they are ahead. A 2-1 first-leg win over Uganda means they travel to Kampala for the return leg on May 9 with the advantage, though the margin is slim enough to keep the tie genuinely open.
Uganda, playing at home in front of their own supporters, will know that a single goal separates them from extra time. Ghana will need composure and discipline to see the job through in what promises to be a ferocious atmosphere.
Benin vs Ivory Coast — The One That Decides Itself
The most evenly poised tie in the WAFU B section is between Benin Republic’s Amazones and Ivory Coast’s Eléphantes. Their first leg in Abidjan ended 1-1, leaving everything to play for in the return leg in Lomé on May 10.
Benin have set up camp at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, preparing deliberately for what is effectively a one-off match for a World Cup place. Ivory Coast, with their superior resources, are equally locked in ahead of the trip west. Whichever side goes through, WAFU B secures a third representative. If Nigeria and Ghana also progress, the region will have sent all four of Africa’s U-20 women’s teams to Poland. Fans following all the WAFU B drama can find markets for the second legs at bet9japromotioncode.com.ng.
📅 Return Leg Fixtures — May 9 & 10, 2026
- May 9 — Malawi vs Nigeria (Bingu National Stadium, Lilongwe) — 2pm Nigeria time
- May 9 — Uganda vs Ghana (Kampala)
- May 10 — Benin Republic vs Ivory Coast (Stade de Kégué, Lomé)
What It Would Mean for the Falconets
Nigeria have never missed a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Not one edition. Since the tournament launched as a U-19 competition in Canada in 2002, the Falconets have appeared at every single finals. This would be their twelfth consecutive qualification.
They have reached the final twice — losing to Germany in 2010 and again in 2014. The Falconets are not just participating at these tournaments. They are historically one of the strongest sides in the competition, and their record of consistency is unmatched on the African continent. Fans wanting to back the girls all the way to Poland can get started with this Bet9ja sign-up bonus ahead of the return leg in Lilongwe this weekend.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria’s Falconets are the only African team to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 2002. That streak now stands at eleven consecutive appearances — with a twelfth within touching distance after their 2-0 first-leg lead over Malawi.
- Ifeanyi Kindness, who scored Nigeria’s second goal in the 58th minute, finished calmly by rounding the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into the empty net. The composed finish was a sign of exactly the kind of clinical edge the Falconets were missing in the first half, when they created numerous chances but Malawi’s Emily Nkhwazi kept them at bay.
- The Falconets’ first leg was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne — the same venue that hosted the NNL Super-4 the following weekend. Remo Stars chairman Kunle Soname is fast turning the Ikenne ground into one of the most active football venues in South-West Nigeria, hosting both domestic and international fixtures within days of each other.
- Nigeria reached the final of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in both 2010 and 2014, losing to Germany on both occasions. The 2010 final was played in Germany, where they lost 2-0. In 2014 in Canada, Germany prevailed again, 1-0. No other African side has appeared in more than one U-20 Women’s World Cup final.
- Ghana’s Black Princesses, who lead Uganda 2-1 ahead of the Kampala return leg, have also been regular qualifiers for the U-20 Women’s World Cup. Their rivalry with Nigeria in WAFU B women’s youth football has been a defining feature of West African football development over the past two decades.
- The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Poland from September 5 to September 27, 2026. It will be the first time Poland has hosted a FIFA women’s youth world championship. Africa is allocated four of the tournament’s available spots, and the WAFU B zone is on course to claim all four of them.
- Benin Republic’s U-20 women’s team, the Amazones, are one of the emerging forces in West African women’s youth football. Their 1-1 draw away at Ivory Coast in the first leg — earned on the road in Abidjan — showed a level of resilience and tactical maturity that has not always been expected from the smaller football nations of the WAFU B region.
