Head coach of Nigeria’s U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, Moses Aduku, has promised to address identified shortcomings ahead of the second leg of their FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 qualifier against Senegal.
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The Falconets edged past the Teranga Lionesses 1–0 in a keenly contested first-leg encounter, putting Nigeria in a narrow but valuable position ahead of the return fixture in Senegal.
Speaking after the match, Aduku expressed gratitude for the victory but admitted his side missed opportunities to extend their advantage.
“First and foremost, we thank God because we got the one goal and we won,” Aduku said. “We piled on the pressure and were looking for a second goal, but it didn’t come. Still, 1–0 means we are a step closer to qualifying.”
The coach stressed the importance of immediate improvement ahead of the decisive reverse fixture.
“As soon as we leave here, we will go back to the drawing board to see where we need to correct things before the next battle in Senegal. I know we will not disappoint,” he added.
Aduku also addressed concerns over the subdued performance of one of his key attackers, who was closely marked throughout the game.
“Sometimes football is like that. She is a fantastic player, maybe today was not her day. But in Senegal, you will see a different player,” he assured.
On the injury status of forward Janet Akekoromowei who Injured during the match, the Falconets’ coach said a clearer update would be available after medical assessment.
“We just finished the game, so there is no information yet. When we get back to the hotel, we will get a proper report,” he explained.
Responding to questions about squad rotation and substitutions, Aduku defended his tactical decisions, noting that substitutes are expected to make an impact when called upon.
“That is what a substitute should do—come in and show flashes. We had a game plan that didn’t work well in the first half, but in the second half we created chances and scored. We just didn’t take more of them,” he said.
The coach dismissed suggestions that Nigeria would adopt a defensive approach in the second leg.
“We are not going to play defensive. We will try to score first while tightening our defence. Going defensive will be dangerous for us,” Aduku stated.
He also revealed that several players could still come into contention, depending on fitness reports, as the team prepares for the trip to Senegal.
With a slim first-leg advantage secured, the Falconets will now turn their attention to the return leg in Senegal, where a place in the next round of the Poland 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers will be at stake.
