Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have arrived safely in Ijebu-Ode after concluding three weeks of intensive camping in Abuja, as they ramp up preparations for their crucial FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture.
The team is set to hold training sessions at the Remo Stars Stadium in nearby Ikenne-Remo, where attention has now shifted fully to match readiness. Reports from the camp indicate high morale among the players, with a strong sense of determination and unity evident as they gear up for the challenge ahead.
Nigeria will face Malawi in the first leg of the qualifier on Saturday, May 2, with the return leg scheduled for May 9 in Malawi. The Falconets are aiming for a commanding performance in the opening encounter to secure an advantage ahead of the decisive second leg.
With qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at stake—set to be held in Poland from September 5 to 26—the team remains focused on delivering a strong showing and continuing Nigeria’s proud legacy in youth women’s football.
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.
