Falconets head coach Moses Aduku has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team will seal qualification when they host Rwanda in the second leg of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Nigeria holds a slim 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Kigali, where the Falconets battled hard to secure victory. Aduku admitted the team had hoped to win by a bigger margin away from home, but he believes the return leg in Ibadan provides the perfect opportunity to complete the task.
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“We wanted more goals in Rwanda, but the important thing was to win. Now, back at home, we will play with more freedom and confidence. I have full trust in my players to finish the job,” Aduku said.
The coach revealed that all players in camp are fully fit, a boost to the team’s chances of dominating the encounter. Training sessions in Ibadan have focused on fine-tuning attacking play and improving conversion of chances, areas Aduku believes will be decisive.
He stressed that the Falconets will not underestimate Rwanda, despite their first-leg lead. “In football, nothing is over until the final whistle. We must respect our opponents and approach the game with the same seriousness as if it were 0-0,” he cautioned.
The Falconets have been a dominant force in African women’s youth football, qualifying for every U-20 World Cup since 2002. Aduku hopes this crop of players can continue that proud tradition. “This team is full of talent and determination. They know what is at stake, and I’m confident they will deliver for Nigeria,” he said.
Fans in Ibadan are expected to turn up in large numbers at the Lekan Salami Stadium, creating an atmosphere to inspire the team. For Aduku, the mission is clear: “We want to make the country proud by qualifying, and we are ready.
