Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, have expressed their confidence in being prepared for Saturday’s first leg of the third round in the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup against Senegal.
At a pre-match press conference on Friday evening, Head Coach Moses Aduku and team captain Joy Igbokwe emphasized the team’s readiness, mentality, and fitness as they gear up for the crucial two-legged tie that will determine their advancement in the qualification process for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.
Coach Aduku stated that the team has undergone rigorous training in camp and is fully focused on the upcoming challenge, highlighting that they treat every match with the seriousness of a final to ensure they maintain the right mindset and sharpness.
“The players are fit, focused, and ready. We have worked very hard in camp, and we approach every match with the seriousness of a final to maintain the right mentality and match sharpness,” he said.
Captain Joy Igbokwe echoed the coach’s sentiments, noting that the team is united, concentrated, and fully aware of what is at stake.
She stressed that they are prepared to deliver their best performance in the home match before carrying that same commitment into the return leg in Senegal.
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Regarding the squad’s status, Coach Aduku mentioned that two players who had minor injuries are being carefully managed and have returned to limited training, while one player has fully recovered from illness.
He also called on football fans to come out in large numbers to support the team, emphasizing that strong home support can significantly enhance the players’ confidence and performance.
“The support of our fans will be very important to us, especially playing at home. It gives the players extra confidence and motivation,” he added.
Saturday’s match will take place at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, with the return leg set for Dakar on Saturday, February 14.
