Nigeria’s Falconets suffered heartbreaking elimination from the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after Colombia scored a dramatic late winner to secure a narrow quarter-final victory.
Sports247 reports that after an impressive run to the last eight, Nigeria were undone in the closing stages, with Valerin Loboa finding the decisive goal in the 90+2nd minute to send Colombia into the semi-finals.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the last four of the competition for the first time since 2014. The Falconets had entered the quarter-final full of confidence after producing a commanding 3-0 victory over England in the Round of 16. FIFA had identified the Colombia clash as a meeting between two sides with strong knockout-stage credentials, with Nigeria targeting a return to the semi-finals.
Nigeria’s task became considerably more difficult in the 78th minute, when Kafayat Mafisere was shown a red card, leaving the Falconets to play the final stages with 10 players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Nigeria held firm and appeared set to force the match towards extra time.
However, Colombia delivered the decisive blow deep into stoppage time. Loboa’s 90+2nd-minute strike broke Nigerian resistance and ended what had been a determined effort from the Falconets.
The result will be particularly painful for Nigeria after the team’s remarkable turnaround in Poland. Moses Aduku’s side began the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to Spain and a goalless draw against China before finding their rhythm with a spectacular 10-1 victory over New Caledonia. They then stunned England 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
For Colombia, the victory continues their impressive tradition at the U-20 World Cup, having never previously been eliminated before the quarter-final stage in their appearances at the tournament.
For the Falconets, however, the dream is over. A late Colombian strike, coupled with the challenge of playing the final minutes with 10 players, ultimately ended Nigeria’s campaign painfully.
The Falconets can nevertheless reflect on a tournament in which they recovered strongly from a difficult start and produced one of their standout performances against England before bowing out in the quarter-finals.
