Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, began preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in emphatic fashion with a commanding 10-0 victory over Abuja-based Sunshine FC in a friendly match played in Abuja.
Key Highlights
- Falconets Thrash Sunshine FC 10-0 — Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team launched its preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a dominant 10-0 friendly win over Abuja-based Sunshine FC.
- Coach Praises Strong Start — Head coach Moses Aduku described the performance as impressive but said the team still needs to improve its offensive and defensive coordination.
- Winning Mentality and Fitness Prioritised — Aduku identified building a winning mentality and achieving peak fitness as key priorities ahead of the World Cup.
- Nigeria Targets World Cup Glory — The coach expressed confidence in the Falconets’ chances of competing for the title, despite acknowledging the tough matches ahead.
- Spain to Provide First Major Test — Nigeria will open its Group F campaign against Spain on September 7, followed by matches against China and New Caledonia.
The one-sided encounter served as the team’s first test ahead of the global tournament in Poland, with the Falconets displaying attacking quality and dominance as they overwhelmed their opponents.
Speaking after the match, Falconets head coach Moses Aduku praised his players for an impressive start but insisted there was still room for improvement before the World Cup.
“It was our first friendly match and it was very impressive,” Aduku said. “However, there are still areas the team needs to work on. We must function perfectly as a unit, both offensively and defensively. While we are working hard here, other teams are also preparing.”
The coach revealed that building a winning mentality and improving the team’s fitness remain his top priorities.
“First and foremost is mentality. We want to instill a winning mentality in the players. At the same time, our fitness level must be 100 per cent and beyond because that is one of the major strengths we want to take into the World Cup,” he added.
Looking ahead to the tournament, Aduku acknowledged the challenge awaiting his side but expressed confidence that Nigeria can compete for the title.
“I know every match will be tough, but we are leaving no stone unturned. Our first game against Spain will be difficult, but I believe we can make a statement. Nigerians should pray for us and expect this team to bring back the trophy.”
The coach also disclosed that almost the entire squad had reported to camp, with only one or two players still expected to join.
Despite the heavy defeat, Sunshine FC head coach James Phanuel described the match as a valuable learning experience for his largely grassroots team.
“When you’re on the losing side, you feel disappointed, but I think the girls tried,” he said. “Playing against the national team is not easy. Most of my players are still at the grassroots level and lack that experience.”
Phanuel admitted that poor fitness and communication contributed significantly to the defeat.
“We lacked fitness and communication. Most times, they arrived late to challenges because they couldn’t match the pace of the national team. We’ll go back, continue developing the players, and hopefully do much better if we get another opportunity like this.”
Falconets captain Joy Bequi described the victory as an encouraging beginning to the team’s World Cup preparations.
“It’s a privilege for every one of us to leave our homes and represent Nigeria,” she said. “This win is just the start of our journey towards the World Cup. We are taking this preparation seriously.”
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Bequi also expressed confidence in the team’s chances of lifting the trophy, saying the players are focused and only praying to avoid injuries.
“We believe we have what it takes to win the title. Right now, our biggest prayer is that God keeps injuries away from the team.”
The Falconets will compete in Group F at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to hold in Poland from September 5 to 27. Nigeria will begin its campaign against Spain on September 7, before facing China on September 10, and New Caledonia on September 13.
The expanded 24-team tournament will be staged across the Polish cities of Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec, and Bielsko-Biała, with Nigeria aiming to secure its first-ever FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
