Ibadan set to host Falconets as Aduku hails U20 Girls’ progress ahead of Senegal clash

Ibadan is set to take centre stage in Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, as the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets, host Senegal in the third round of the African qualifying series.

The first leg of the crucial encounter will be played at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, February 7, with the return leg scheduled for February 14 in Dakar, Senegal.

Aduku Pleased With Preparation and Team Response

Falconets head coach Moses Aduku has expressed satisfaction with the team’s preparation, praising the players’ attitude and commitment in camp ahead of the Ibadan showdown.

According to Aduku, the weeks spent in camp have been productive, with all invited players fully present and responding positively to training sessions.

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“The players have shown discipline, intensity and a strong desire to improve,” the coach noted, adding that the technical crew has focused on tactical organisation, team cohesion and match strategy.

Friendly Matches Boost Confidence

Aduku revealed that friendly matches have played a key role in assessing the team’s readiness, particularly in fine-tuning attacking patterns while maintaining defensive balance.

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“The performances we’ve seen so far have been encouraging,” he said, stressing that the objective remains securing a strong result in Ibadan before travelling to Senegal.

Falconets to Continue Preparations in Ibadan

The Falconets are expected to travel to Ibadan on January 27 to intensify preparations ahead of the fixture, as the ancient city prepares to host another major international football event.

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While refraining from making bold predictions, Aduku expressed confidence in the quality and mentality of his squad, citing their competitive displays in recent matches.

Road to Poland 2026

Nigeria, two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup silver medallists, are aiming to qualify for the 12th edition of the tournament, scheduled to hold in Poland from September 5 to 27, 2026.

The winner of the Nigeria–Senegal tie will advance to the final round of qualification, where they will face the winner of the Guinea-Bissau vs Malawi fixture for one of Africa’s four slots at the World Cup.