Twelve years after suffering another final defeat to Germany, Nigeria’s Falconets will begin their latest quest for an elusive FIFA U-20 Women’s Women’s World Cup title in Poland.
Nigeria reached the final of the competition for the first time in 2010 but lost to Germany. Four years later, the Falconets again reached the final in Canada, only to suffer another defeat against the European side.
Now, with the 2026 tournament set to begin, the Nigerian side will be hoping to finally cross the last hurdle and secure their first title in the competition.
The Falconets qualified for the tournament after navigating a difficult African qualification campaign while maintaining their record of appearing at every edition of the U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inauguration in 2002.
Alongside the United States and Brazil, Nigeria remains one of only three countries to have featured in every edition of the tournament.
The Falconets defeated Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate, overcame Senegal 3-1 and edged Malawi 3-2 over two legs to secure their place at the 2026 tournament.
In preparation for the competition, the team underwent an intensive training camp in Abuja, where the coaching crew focused on fitness, tactical discipline, teamwork and mental preparation.
The Falconets also completed an unbeaten warm-up campaign in Poland, defeating the host nation 1-0 before playing a 1-1 draw against South Korea.
Head coach Moses Aduku said the team was fully prepared for the tournament and had no injury concerns ahead of their opening match.
“For me, we are good; no injury worries. My girls are ready; therefore, we are waiting for the 7th against Spain. We are ready; that’s why we are in Poland. We are here to take it one game at a time,” Aduku said after the draw against South Korea.
The friendly matches also provided the technical crew with an opportunity to assess the players, test tactical plans and allow the squad to adapt to the conditions in Poland.
The Nigeria Football Federation said the games would help the players gain experience against different styles of play ahead of the tournament.
“The matches will provide valuable opportunities for the players to acclimatise further to the conditions in Poland, test themselves against different styles of play, sharpen their tactical understanding and gain experience against quality opposition on the world stage,” the NFF stated.
Nigeria’s 21-player squad combines players from the domestic league with those featuring abroad.
Queen Joseph and SL Benfica forward Janet Akekoromowei are among the attacking options expected to provide the Falconets with a threat in front of goal.
However, the team suffered a setback before departure after visa complications prevented original captain Joy Igbokwe and defender Farida Abdulwahab from travelling with the squad.
Christiana Uzoma has since been appointed captain and will be expected to provide leadership from the back.
Another player attracting attention is 17-year-old forward Precious Oscar, who FIFA listed among the players to watch at the tournament.
Oscar played a decisive role in Nigeria’s qualification, scoring the goal that secured a 3-2 aggregate victory over Malawi.
FIFA described the teenager as a player with exceptional speed, strong playmaking ability and an eye for goal.
With preparations complete, Nigeria will open their Group F campaign against Spain on Monday, September 7, in Łódź.
The Falconets will face China PR three days later before concluding their group-stage campaign against New Caledonia on Sunday, September 13.
Falconets’ Group F fixtures
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | Nigeria vs Spain | Monday, September 7, 2026 | Łódź, Poland |
| Matchday 2 | Nigeria vs China PR | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Łódź, Poland |
| Matchday 3 | Nigeria vs New Caledonia | Sunday, September 13, 2026 | Łódź, Poland |
Having twice reached the final without winning the trophy, Nigeria will enter the 2026 tournament determined to turn their long-standing record of near misses into a historic triumph.
For the Falconets, the target is clear: go beyond the achievements of the 2010 and 2014 teams and finally bring the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup trophy home.