Ahead of the decisive final round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, the Senegal U-20 women’s national team is set to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday to face the Falconets.
The Young Lionesses departed Dakar on Tuesday, travelling to Lagos as preparations intensify for the high-stakes West African showdown that will determine a place at the global tournament.
The first leg of the qualifier will be played on Saturday, February 7, at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, where Nigeria’s Falconets will be aiming to secure a strong home advantage ahead of the return leg in Senegal.
With World Cup qualification on the line, both sides head into the encounter full of ambition, knowing the tie represents a major test of preparation, quality, and regional supremacy. The Falconets, buoyed by recent impressive performances in camp, will look to assert their dominance on home soil, while Senegal arrive determined to challenge Nigeria’s long-standing pedigree at youth level.
The winner over two legs will book a coveted ticket to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, making the clash one of the most significant fixtures in the current African qualifying campaign.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
