Nigeria’s U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have expressed strong confidence ahead of Saturday’s third-round, first-leg clash against Senegal in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday evening, Falconets head coach Moses Aduku said his players are fully prepared, focused and mentally ready for the crucial two-legged tie that will decide progression in the qualification race.

Aduku revealed that the team has undergone intensive preparations in camp and stressed the importance of treating every fixture as a final.

“The players are fit, focused, and ready. We have worked very hard in camp, and we approach every match with the seriousness of a final to maintain the right mentality and match sharpness,” he said.

Team captain Joy Igbokwe echoed her coach’s confidence, noting that the squad is united and fully aware of what is at stake. She said the Falconets are determined to secure a positive result at home before taking the same level of commitment into the return leg in Senegal.

“We are focused and ready to give our best in the home match, and we will carry that same determination into the second leg,” Igbokwe said.

Providing a fitness update, Aduku disclosed that two players who sustained minor knocks are being carefully managed and have returned to limited training, while another player has fully recovered from illness and is back with the squad.

The coach also appealed to Nigerian football fans to turn out in large numbers to support the team, stressing that home backing could be a key factor in boosting the players’ confidence and performance. “The support of our fans will be very important to us, especially playing at home. It gives the players extra confidence and motivation,” he added.

Saturday’s first leg will be played at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, with the return leg scheduled for Dakar on Saturday, 14 February.

The winner over the two legs will move a step closer to securing a place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

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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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