Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have ramped up preparations with an intense training session at their camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, as they gear up for a pivotal qualifier against Malawi.
The team has been focusing on tactics, fitness, and team cohesion, aiming to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Falconets will face Malawi’s Young Scorchers on Saturday, May 2, in Ikenne for the first leg of the final qualifying round.
The outcome of the two-legged encounter is crucial, as the winner will claim one of Africa’s four slots for the prestigious tournament.
The second leg is scheduled for May 9, 2026, at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi. The aggregate score from both matches will determine which team advances to the World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is set to take place in Poland from September 5 to 26, promising a global stage for the continent’s rising football stars.
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.
