Players and officials of Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s National Team, the Falconets, have officially resumed camp in Abuja as preparations intensify for the final round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Some of the invited players arrived in camp on Monday, April 6, 2026, with full training sessions kicking off on Tuesday, April 7. The team has since begun intensive drills focused on fitness, team chemistry, and tactical discipline, while the coaching crew awaits the arrival of the remaining players.
Head Coach Moses Aduku addressed the squad during their first session, urging total commitment and focus. He stressed the importance of discipline, teamwork, and determination as the Falconets gear up for a challenging encounter against Malawi.
The Malawian side secured their place in the final qualifying round after narrowly defeating Guinea-Bissau in their previous fixture, setting up a decisive clash with Nigeria.
The Falconets will host the first leg on Saturday, May 2, before traveling to Malawi for the return leg a week later. At stake is a spot at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, set to be held in Poland from September 5 to 26, where Africa will be represented by four teams.
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.
