With departure for Poland now days away, Moses Aduku is using every remaining training session in Abuja to fine tune a Falconets squad chasing a first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
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Nigeria’s Falconets are intensifying preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, currently in camp in Abuja ahead of their departure for Poland.
Head coach Moses Aduku’s squad is scheduled to depart for Poland on Monday, 24 August, for the final phase of preparations before the tournament proper begins. The Falconets have already played warm up fixtures in Abuja, including a 10-0 win over Bodyline FC and a similarly one-sided victory over Sunshine FC, as Aduku works on fitness, tactical cohesion and what he has described as building a winning mentality ahead of the finals.
Group F: Spain, China And Paraguay
Nigeria have been drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and Paraguay for the tournament, which runs across four Polish cities from 5 to 27 September. The Falconets open their campaign against Spain at the Arena Sosnowiec, before facing China at the same venue three days later, and round off the group stage against Paraguay at the Stadion Miejski ŁKS.
Nigeria qualified for Poland 2026 after an impressive run through the African qualifiers, thrashing Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate before edging Senegal and then Malawi, both by 3-2 aggregate scorelines, in tightly contested ties.
Chasing A First Title
The Falconets remain the only African nation to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 2002. Nigeria’s best finishes came with back to back runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2014, both defeats to Germany, and a historic semi final run in 2012 that remains unmatched by any other African side. With Germany failing to qualify for this year’s tournament for the first time, Aduku’s squad will be hoping conditions are right to finally push for a maiden title in Poland.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria’s two runner-up finishes at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, in 2010 and 2014, remain the best result ever achieved by an African nation at the tournament.
- The Falconets became the first African side to reach the semi finals of the competition at the 2012 edition in Japan, a milestone no other African team has since matched.
- Poland 2026 marks the tournament’s first time being hosted by Poland, and features six debutant nations including the hosts themselves, alongside Portugal, New Caledonia, Ecuador, Tanzania and Benin Republic.
- Nigeria’s qualification for this year’s tournament came via a dramatic final round against Malawi, with Precious Oscar’s 62nd minute goal off the bench proving decisive.
- At the 2024 edition in Colombia, the Falconets beat Korea Republic 1-0 in the group stage before exiting in the round of 16 against Japan.
- Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Tanzania represented Africa at this year’s tournament draw, with all four now preparing for the finals in Poland.
- Falconets captain Joy Igbokwe has expressed confidence in the squad’s title chances, saying the team is taking every aspect of its preparation seriously ahead of the tournament.
