Falconets forced into two squad changes for U-20 Women’s World Cup

Nigeria’s Falconets have made two changes to their squad for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after captain Joe Igbokwe and defender Faridat Abdulwahab were unable to obtain visas to enter Poland.

Igbokwe and Abdulwahab have consequently been replaced by Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi as Moses Aduku’s team continues its preparations for the tournament.

The Falconets arrived in Trzebnica on Tuesday and have since increased the intensity of their work ahead of the competition. The squad will use two warm-up matches in Poland to complete its preparations before the World Cup begins.

Nigeria’s first friendly will be against hosts Poland at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg on Friday. The team will then face Korea Republic in its final tune-up match at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium next Tuesday.

The two matches will provide the Falconets with further preparation before they begin their Group F campaign, where they will face Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.

Aduku’s side will open the tournament against Spain on Monday, 7 September.

The changes involving Igbokwe and Abdulwahab were made because the pair could not secure the required entry visas for Poland. Their replacements, Kachi and Olabiyi, will now be part of Nigeria’s squad as the team completes its final stages of preparation in Trzebnica.

Nigeria’s opening fixture against Spain will be followed by further Group F matches against China PR and New Caledonia. The Falconets’ two pre-tournament fixtures against Poland and Korea Republic will be their final competitive preparations before the squad turns its attention to the World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will therefore begin for Nigeria with a meeting against Spain on 7 September, after which the team will continue its campaign in Group F.

The Falconets are being led by Moses Aduku, who arrived in Poland with the squad on Tuesday. Their training programme and friendly schedule will now continue without Igbokwe and Abdulwahab, with Kachi and Olabiyi taking their places in the amended squad.