A piercing question has come up over the readiness and suitability of Ibadan playing host to Nigeria’s under-20 women’s national team, Falconets against Senegal’s female youth squad on February 7th in the first leg of their final qualifier.
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Sports247 gathered that Lekan Salami Stadium, in Adamasingba area of Oyo State’s capital, has been chosen to first host both sides in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final qualifier, while the second leg holds the weekend after in Dakar, Senegal.
However, some critical comments emerged on social media all through Monday night, with insinuations that the stadium in Ibadan is not worthy of hosting a domestic league match, talk less an international game.
The comments came after a statement by the information department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disclosed that the Falconets will travel to Ibadan this Tuesday to commence final preparations ahead of the game billed for next weekend.
Meanwhile, Oyo State’s commissioner for youth and sports, Honourable Wasilat Adegoke assured football fans, stakeholders, officials and guests of adequate security, effective logistics and a memorable matchday experience.
She further stated that, having earlier hosted the Falconets’ previous game versus Rwanda at the same venue last year, Oyo State is set to further confirm its growing reputation as a hub for international sporting events.
The commissioner also expressed confidence that the Falconets will again rise to the occasion, as they did with their emphatic victory over Rwanda, during which the state exhibited its world-class sporting facilities and organisational capacity.
“The Lekan Salami Stadium has continued to serve as a fortress for our national teams, and we are confident the Falconets will make the nation proud,” the sports buff stated excitedly.
Sports247 gathered further that the winner of this fixture will face either Guinea Bissau or Malawi, for one of Africa’s four tickets at the tournament, which will be hosted in Poland from the 5th to 27th of September this year.
The Falconets, who won silver in 2010 and 2014 as well as fourth plave in 2012, are already looking ahead to picking one of Africa’s four tickets to the 12th edition of Female Cadet Mundial.
