Abuja: Nigeria’s Under-20 women’s national team is prioritizing developing a winning mentality and achieving peak fitness in preparation for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup set to take place in Poland. Falconets Head Coach, Moses Aduku, emphasized these goals following the team’s dominant 10-0 victory over Sunshine FC, an Abuja-based club, in a friendly match.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the friendly match was held at the FIFA Goal Project Pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, marking the Falconets’ initial step in their World Cup preparation journey. Aduku acknowledged the team’s strong start but stressed the need for further improvements in both offensive and defensive play.
Aduku highlighted the importance of cultivating the right mindset and ensuring the players reach optimal fitness levels, which he believes will be crucial during the World Cup. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to face challenging opponents in Poland, particularly in their opening game against Spain.
He also called for continued support from Nigerians, urging them to pray for and back the team as they gear up for the tournament scheduled from September 5 to 27 in Poland. Aduku confirmed that most of the invited players have already arrived at the camp in Abuja, with a few more expected to join soon.
Sunshine FC Head Coach, James Phanuel, viewed the match as a valuable learning experience for his team despite the defeat, citing challenges with fitness and communication. Meanwhile, Falconets captain, Joy Igbokwe, expressed the team’s determination to make Nigeria proud and recognized the victory as a motivational start to their World Cup preparations.
The Falconets are placed in Group F alongside Spain, China PR, and Paraguay, with their campaign set to kick off against Spain on September 7. The team secured its World Cup spot by defeating Rwanda, Senegal, and Malawi during the African qualifying series, marking Nigeria’s continued presence in every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002. The Falconets aim to secure their first title, having previously finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014 and reaching the semi-finals in 2012.