Nigeria Players Abroad
Falconets step up World Cup preparations with Poland and South Korea friendlies
Nigeria’s Falconets have begun intensive preparations in Trzebnica, Poland, less than two weeks before their campaign at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The two-time FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup silver-medallists held their first training session at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena, on Wednesday, shortly after arriving in Poland on Tuesday.
Players and members of the technical crew worked with energy and focus as the team began its preparations for the tournament. The opening session placed emphasis on tactical organisation, technical execution, physical conditioning and developing greater cohesion within the squad.
Nigeria will use two international friendly matches to complete its preparations. The Falconets will face hosts Poland on 28 August before meeting South Korea on 1 September.
The match against Poland will be played at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 local time. The fixture against South Korea will take place at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium and will begin at 16:00 local time.
The two matches are intended to give the Falconets further experience of conditions in Poland while allowing them to measure themselves against opponents with different styles of play. They will also provide opportunities to improve the team’s tactical understanding and prepare the players for the demands of international competition.
For the coaching staff, the fixtures will offer an important assessment of the squad’s progress before the World Cup. The matches are expected to help the technical crew identify areas requiring adjustment and ensure the players are ready for the pace and intensity of the tournament.
Nigeria will compete in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.
The Falconets will begin their group-stage campaign against Spain on 7 September. They will then play China PR on 10 September before completing their group fixtures against New Caledonia on 13 September.
Nigeria’s team arrived in Poland with the aim of building on its record of reaching the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final twice. The squad has now moved quickly into its football programme, with the opening training session marking the start of the final phase of work before the competition begins.
The friendlies against Poland and South Korea will therefore represent the team’s last scheduled opportunities to test its preparations in match conditions before turning its full attention to the World Cup group stage.
