Falconets Target 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualification — Coach Moses Aduku

Head coach of Nigeria’s women’s U-20 national team, Moses Aduku, has declared that the Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team are firmly focused on securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Poland.

Aduku made this known on Wednesday while speaking exclusively with Pan-Africa Football, as the Falconets opened camp in Abuja ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Senegal.

Providing an update on preparations, the coach revealed that 17 players have already reported to camp, with more expected to arrive in the coming days as excused players conclude club commitments.

“The target, first and foremost, is to qualify for the World Cup. Then, focus on how we can win the World Cup,” Aduku stated.

“We are happy to be back and to start preparation for the World Cup qualifier against Senegal. We have 17 players in camp. By tomorrow, we are expecting everybody to be in camp. Some took excuses from their club because they want to play the first league game of the new year. By tomorrow, the camp will be filled up and we will start proper preparation.”

The Falconets’ handler expressed satisfaction with the attitude and enthusiasm of his players, describing the atmosphere in camp as positive.

“So far, so good. The girls are bubbling. They came back with high spirits and we are on,” he added.

Aduku also highlighted the importance of continuity and support from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressing that the team is building on recent achievements rather than dwelling on past successes.

“We are building up from where we stopped. We came back from WAFU B as champions, but we are not looking at that. We won Rwanda, but we are not looking at that. All these are past.

“Most of the players that went to WAFU B are among those back in camp. With the time the NFF has given us to prepare, I believe, by God’s grace, we will make the nation proud.”

Nigeria boasts an enviable record at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, having qualified for every edition since the tournament’s inception in 2002. The Falconets remain one of the few nations with a 100 percent participation record, finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will run from September 5 to 27 in Poland. While the full list of 24 qualified teams is yet to be confirmed, several nations have already booked their places, including hosts Poland, Spain, England, France, Italy, Portugal, as well as the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.

Nigeria will now look to maintain their proud World Cup tradition as they prepare for a decisive showdown against Senegal.

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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