Falconets Step Up Preparations for Crucial World Cup Qualifier Against Malawi

Nigeria’s U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have intensified their final preparations ahead of their decisive FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash against Malawi, scheduled for Saturday, May 2.

Head Coach Moses Aduku has expressed strong confidence in his squad’s readiness, emphasizing their focus and determination as they approach the first-leg encounter.

“We have a full squad on ground and everyone is focused on the task at hand. From now, we will concentrate on team planning and tactical work. We are taking this very seriously, and I believe by the end of the match we will come out victorious,” Aduku said.

The mood in camp remains upbeat, with high morale among players and no injury concerns. The coaching crew has also highlighted the team’s depth and athleticism, acknowledging the challenge of blending players from different clubs in a short time but remaining optimistic about building a cohesive unit.

Aduku also called on supporters for continued backing: “We plead that you pray for us as you did when we played Rwanda and Senegal in earlier rounds. I believe Nigeria will smile with a ticket to the World Cup after the two legs against Malawi.”

The Falconets have been training intensively in Abuja as they fine-tune strategies for the encounter. The return leg is set to take place in Lilongwe on Saturday, May 9.

Nigeria reached this final qualifying round after a solid campaign, defeating Senegal 3-1 on aggregate—winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 away—following a dominant 5-0 aggregate victory over Rwanda in the second round.

Malawi, meanwhile, come into the fixture with momentum after overpowering Guinea-Bissau 6-2 on aggregate, including a commanding 5-1 win in Lilongwe after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

With both teams showing strong form, the upcoming tie promises to be a highly competitive battle for a place at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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