Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, claimed a 2-0 victory over Malawi in the first leg of their final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The match was played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The Falconets delivered a composed and disciplined performance, creating several chances throughout the game. The two goals gave Nigeria a strong advantage heading into the second leg. A strong away performance will be needed from Malawi to overturn the deficit.
The Falconets squad has been in training camp in Ikenne for several weeks ahead of the qualifier. Coach Bankole Olowookere praised his players for their focus and commitment during training and said he was pleased with how they executed the game plan on the night.
“The girls were excellent. They followed the tactical plan and showed real quality. We still have the second leg to play, and we will approach it with the same focus and determination,” Olowookere said after the final whistle.
Nigeria has a strong tradition in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The Falconets have qualified for the tournament multiple times and have historically been one of Africa’s strongest teams at this age group.
The second leg of the qualifier is expected to take place in Malawi within the next two weeks. Nigeria will need to ensure they do not concede goals that could narrow the aggregate score ahead of the return fixture.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership Super Six is set to conclude on Saturday, May 17. Nasarawa Amazons are in contention for their first NWFL title since 2017 after a strong run of results in the competition.
The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, are also set to travel to the United Kingdom for a short training tour as part of their preparations for upcoming international fixtures.
Nigerian women’s football has received increased attention and support in recent years. Stakeholders continue to push for better funding and infrastructure to help the country’s women’s teams compete at the highest level on the global stage.
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