Falconets head coach Moses Aduku is confident Nigeria can overcome a tough England side when both teams meet in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Bielsko-Biala on Thursday.
England finished second in Group B with four points, behind group winners Brazil, setting up a challenging knockout encounter against Nigeria.
The Falconets will enter the clash hoping to build on their impressive recovery after a difficult start to the tournament.
Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Spain before playing out a goalless draw against China.
They bounced back in emphatic fashion in their final group game, thrashing tournament debutants New Caledonia 10-1 to secure their place in the last 16.
Read Also:U-20 WWC: We Still Have Some Lapses —Aduku Admits Despite Falconets’ 10-1 Win Over New Caledonia
Aduku Pleased With Progress
Aduku expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress but admitted that there are still areas that need improvement, particularly in defence.
“We’re really happy with the goals we scored today. We wanted to get through to the last 16, and we’ve shown that we can do it,” Aduku told FIFA.
“We’ve shipped a few too many goals in this tournament so far, so we’ll be looking to shore things up at the back.”
Falconets Ready For England Test
Despite acknowledging the quality of their next opponents, Aduku believes his players are prepared for the challenge and determined to keep their title hopes alive.
“It’s going to be a tough test,” he said.
“If you want to be crowned champions, you’ve got to win every game. We’re ready for the challenge.”
By Adeboye Amosu
