Senegal’s U20 women’s national team has arrived in Abeokuta, Ogun State, ahead of Saturday’s crucial FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup third-round, first-leg qualifying clash against Nigeria’s Falconets.

The Senegalese side, known as the Lionesses de Téranga, flew into Lagos on Tuesday night before proceeding by road to the Ogun State capital. The team is scheduled to hold its first training session on Wednesday evening as preparations intensify for the penultimate round of the qualifiers.

Nigeria’s U20 women, the Falconets, will be seeking a strong home performance in the two-legged tie, with the aggregate winner set to advance to the final qualifying round. The winner of the Nigeria–Senegal fixture will face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi for a place at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Poland later this year.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed match officials from Uganda and Burundi to oversee Saturday’s encounter. Ugandan referee Diana Murungi will take charge of the match, assisted by her compatriots Immaculate Ongiera and Elizabeth Nassolo as assistant referees one and two, respectively. Suavis Iratunga of Burundi will serve as the fourth official.

Ghanaian Christine Ziga has been named match commissioner, while Berthe Minka of Gabon will act as referee assessor.

Saturday’s fixture represents the first leg of the third and final qualifying round for African teams seeking tickets to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, with both sides eager to take a decisive step toward global qualification.

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Nigeria’s U-20 Women National Team, the Falconets, continued their preparations for their crucial first-leg encounter against Senegal with a 2–1 victory over Nigeria Women Premier League side FC Robo in a friendly match played in Ibadan.

The Falconets arrived in Ibadan on Monday, January 27, 2026, to step up preparations for the all-important fixture scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Lekan Salami Stadium. The test match against FC Robo was part of the technical crew’s assessment programme, designed to evaluate the team’s tactical execution, match fitness and overall performance ahead of the continental tie.

Speaking after the encounter, Head Coach Moses Aduku expressed satisfaction with the result, while admitting that the team still has areas to fine-tune before facing Senegal.

“So far, so good. We won the game, but there are still a few adjustments to be made in the team ahead of Saturday’s game against the Senegalese,” Aduku said.

He also praised the players’ response and mentality during the match, highlighting their resilience and fighting spirit.

“There were positives, especially the fighting spirit. The way the girls responded to score the winning goal was very encouraging. It showed character, resilience, and the determination not to relent in our quest to qualify,” he added.

The Falconets are expected to continue intensive training sessions in Ibadan as they count down to the first-leg showdown, with the technical crew focused on sharpening tactics and building cohesion ahead of the decisive encounter.

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By Kunle Solaja

Rabat’s regimented standard-bearers, AS FAR, march onto the global stage on Wednesday, determined to test their military discipline against Arsenal’s celebrated firepower in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.

The club formally known as Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales will carry Morocco’s flag into the competition for the first time when the CAF Women’s Champions League holders face the reigning European champions in London, a historic moment for the Rabat-based side and African women’s football.

The draw has offered no easing-in period. At Brentford Stadium, AS FAR confront one of the most formidable teams in world football, an Arsenal side whose pedigree, depth and experience at the highest level are well established.

Yet within the Moroccan camp, this fixture is viewed less as a leap into the unknown and more as the next step in a carefully constructed journey. Multiple-time champions of Morocco and winners of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League, AS FAR have built a reputation as a model of tactical organisation, collective responsibility and sustained success.

Their confidence is reinforced by recent form. AS FAR arrive in London unbeaten in their last five matches, a sequence marked by controlled performances, consistent results and a defence that has shown resilience under pressure. While the magnitude of the challenge is acknowledged, belief remains intact.

Standing in their path is an Arsenal side synonymous with pace, technical excellence and relentless intensity. Winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Gunners are capable of dictating matches through sustained pressure and clinical execution, setting the benchmark for elite women’s football in Europe.

With the Brentford crowd expected to be overwhelmingly in Arsenal’s favour, AS FAR will need composure, emotional control and unwavering concentration. True to their identity, the Moroccan champions are expected to prioritise defensive compactness, restrict space between the lines and exploit transitions with speed and precision.

Beyond the immediate outcome, the encounter carries wider significance. It provides AS FAR with a rare opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s elite and to underline their legitimacy on the global stage.

More broadly, the match represents a landmark moment for Moroccan and African women’s football, signalling a growing ambition not merely to participate on the biggest platforms, but to compete with conviction against the game’s established powers.

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