Nigeria’s Falconets have intensified final preparations for their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Malawi.
Head coach Moses Aduku expressed confidence in the team’s readiness to confront the southern Africans.
“We have a full squad on ground and everyone is focused on the task at hand. From now, we will concentrate on team planning and tactical work. We are taking this very seriously, and I believe by the end of the match we will come out victorious.” Aduku told thenff.com.
There is an overwhelming positive atmosphere in camp, with high morale among the players, and no injuries to contend with.
Read Also:Ofili: Olopade Urges Sprint Star To Return To Team Nigeria Fold
Coach Aduku highlighted the squad’s depth and athleticism, noting the challenge of blending players from different clubs within a short period, while expressing confidence in building a cohesive and competitive team before the encounter.
“To our supporters, we plead that you pray for us as you did when we played Rwanda and Senegal in the earlier rounds. I believe Nigeria will smile with a ticket to the World Cup after the two legs against Malawi,” he added.
The Falconets will host Malawi in the first leg on Saturday, 2nd May.
The return leg in Lilongwe will take place on Saturday, 9th May.
Nigeria secured their place in the final round with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Senegal, winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 in Senegal, following another home-and-away victory over Rwanda (5-0 aggregate) in the second round.
1 Comment
Going by his antecedents in Women’s football, I believe the Falconets are in safe hands under Moses Aduku.
With 2 NWFL league titles under his belt with a domestic trophy to boot, you can’t argue against his pedigree.
I remember following the CAF Women’s Champions League some seasons back where he was a hair’s breath away from qualifying Edo Queens for the final, only to come ultimately come fourth: an impressive achievement, considering he came against some heavy hitters on the continent, particularly that TP Mazembe and their tactically gifted Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi, also a former Moroccan international.
So, based on his background, experience and failures,Aduku should be able to fashion a finish against Malawi and then raise a formidable Falconets force to force oppositions to their knees at the U-20 World Cup later in the year.
Top of list of players on my list is Kindness Ifeanyi. This lady is something else, man! Able to stand out in the crowd, Falconets fans will be hoping for her to once again light up the screen with silky skills and exceptional acumen on the ball.
There is the player currently taking the NWFL by storm: Atume Doosuur of Edo Queens, the current highest goals score in the league with 10 goals.
I watched her play their last league fixture against Niger Ratels and I have to say, this lady is brutal, lethal, feral! An apex predator in the box 18 with aerial presence and fiendish feet. She powered a later header into the back of the helpless net to give her team all 3 points.
I searched but couldn’t ascertain her actual age. If she is still under 21, or claims to be under 21, I will draft this deft destroyer into the Falconets team without delay.
Mention must also be made of ex-Flamingos star Opeyemi Ajakaye who is slowly rediscovering her form in this league with 5 goals to her name thus far for FC Robo after failed sojourn to the USA some seasons past.
In the meantime time, I trust all the players Aduku has in camp can do a yeo-woman’s job to grab the world cup ticket on offer.
Good luck!