Head coach Moses Aduku has praised the resilience of Falconets after the team secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland despite a nervy defeat to Malawi.
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The Falconets lost 2-1 to Malawi in the second leg of their qualifying tie in Lilongwe on Saturday afternoon but advanced 3-2 on aggregate following their comfortable 2-0 victory in the first leg in Ikenne.
Nigeria maintained its impressive record of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, although the final hurdle proved more difficult than expected against a determined Malawian side.
Reacting after the match, Aduku admitted the encounter tested his players mentally and physically, but expressed satisfaction with the team’s ability to deliver qualification under pressure.
“We are happy to qualify because that was the main objective,” Aduku said after the game.
“The girls showed character in difficult moments and fought hard to secure the ticket to Poland.”
The coach also stressed that improvement remains necessary ahead of the global tournament, insisting that discipline and better coordination would remain central to his plans.
“We still have work to do as a team. We must improve our coordination, finishing and overall discipline because the World Cup will be tougher,” he added.
Malawi threatened an upset after pushing the Falconets for long periods during the second leg, but Nigeria held on to preserve their aggregate advantage and avoid elimination.
Aduku further commended his squad for staying composed during tense moments, noting that the experience gained during the qualifiers could help the team mature before the tournament begins in September 2026.
The Falconets are now expected to begin preparations for the World Cup with training camps and international friendly matches as Nigeria targets another strong outing on the world stage in Poland.
