Nigeria’s U 20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have officially opened camp in Abuja as preparations intensify for their decisive qualification clash for the 2026 FIFA U 20 Women’s World Cup.
The team is gearing up for a two legged encounter against Malawi, with a place at the tournament in Poland at stake. The competition is scheduled to hold from September 5 to 26, 2026.
Nigeria will host the first leg of the tie on Saturday, May 2, before travelling for the return fixture in Malawi a week later, in what is expected to be a keenly contested battle for qualification.
Players and officials began arriving at camp earlier in the week, with some of the invited squad members reporting on Monday, while full training sessions commenced on Tuesday under the supervision of head coach Moses Aduku.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, preparations are already in full swing, with the technical crew focusing on improving fitness levels, tactical discipline and overall team cohesion as they build towards the crucial fixtures. The coaching staff is also expecting the remaining invited players to join camp in the coming days.
Addressing the players during the opening session, Aduku emphasised the importance of focus, discipline and commitment, urging the team to remain determined as they prepare to face a Malawian side that has also shown resilience in the qualifiers.
Nigeria secured their place in the final round after overcoming Senegal with a 3 1 aggregate victory earlier in February, while Malawi advanced after defeating Guinea Bissau to set up the decisive tie.
The Falconets carry a rich pedigree in the competition, having finished as runners up on two occasions, losing to Germany in both the 2010 and 2014 finals. With that history in mind, the team will be aiming to return to the global stage and compete strongly once again.
As preparations continue in Abuja, attention will be firmly on building a balanced and competitive squad capable of delivering results over the two legs and securing Nigeria’s place at the tournament in Poland.
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