By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Gambian referee Ngum Fatou to officiate Nigeria’s Falconets’ decisive second-leg clash against Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Fatou will be assisted by compatriots Jainaba Manneh and Abbie Ceesay, while Isatou Touray will serve as the fourth official. Liberia’s Jodie Marian Reid Seton has been named match commissioner, with Egyptian Hayam Mohammed Baraka appointed referee assessor.
The match is scheduled for Saturday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, where the Falconets will defend their slim 1–0 advantage secured in Kigali last weekend.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian team and officials arrived in Ibadan on Monday afternoon to resume preparations. They were received by Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke, who pledged government backing for the team.
“We are proud of your achievements so far and confident you will finish the job here in Ibadan. You have our full support and prayers as you strive for qualification,” Adegoke assured.
The Falconets need at least a draw to progress to the third round of qualifiers as they continue their push for a place at the 2026 U20 Women’s World Cup.
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.
