I have quality – Aduku confident Falconets will beat Rwanda in World Cup qualifier

Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, are gearing up for their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup second-round, first-leg qualifying tie against Rwanda on Sunday.

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The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm Rwanda time (2pm Nigeria time) at the Kigali-Pele Stadium, with head coach Moses Aduku expressing strong confidence in his side’s chances.

What Aduku said

Speaking to thenff.com ahead of the encounter, Aduku said the Falconets had studied Rwanda’s style of play during their first-round matches against Zimbabwe.

“We have had the opportunity to watch the Rwandan girls in their first-round games against Zimbabwe, and we now have an idea of how they play,” Aduku stated.

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“We will devise strategies to neutralize them and then go for victory. I know the quality of players I have in my team, and I have confidence in them.”

The coach also noted that starting the tie away from home could work in the Falconets’ favour.

“We are happy to be playing the first leg away, but at the end, what matters is the effort put into every match, not necessarily the venue,” Aduku added.

Return Leg in Ibadan

The reverse fixture will take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasinga, Ibadan, next Saturday.

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The aggregate winner will advance to the next round of qualifiers as Nigeria continues its bid to secure a spot at the 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Falconets’ Impressive Record

The Falconets remain one of the most successful women’s youth teams globally.

Nigeria has qualified for every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002.

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They have reached the final twice (2010 in Germany and 2014 in Canada), finishing as runners-up on both occasions.

They also boast multiple semi-final and quarter-final appearances, underlining their consistency on the world stage.

This track record makes Nigeria overwhelming favourites against Rwanda as they look to extend their dominance in African women’s football and secure yet another World Cup ticket.