Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have touched down in Lilongwe as they prepare for a decisive second-leg clash against Malawi in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The team left Abuja on Tuesday and arrived via Kamuzu International Airport, the main entry point to Malawi’s capital, situated roughly 26 kilometres from Lilongwe. The trip, which usually involves a stopover, takes between 12 and 15 hours.
Heading into the return fixture, Nigeria hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg, putting them in a strong position to progress. The Falconets need only to avoid a defeat by more than two goals to seal qualification.
Malawi, however, are determined to mount a comeback. In a bid to rally support, the Football Association of Malawi has declared free entry for fans, hoping to pack the stadium and generate an intense home atmosphere. Backed by their supporters, the hosts will aim to overturn the deficit against the seven-time African champions.
Despite the expected pressure, Nigeria remain confident following a disciplined and controlled display in the first leg that gave them the upper hand.
The winner on aggregate will book a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, set to be held in Poland later this year.
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.
