NIGERIA’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, produced a dazzling display of attacking football on Saturday, defeating Rwanda’s She-Amavubi 4–0 in the second leg of their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the result sealed a 5–0 aggregate victory for Nigeria, following their 1–0 triumph in the first leg in Kigali, and sent them through to the third and final round of the African qualifiers.
The Falconets wasted no time in asserting dominance, with Precious Oscar opening the scoring in the 15th minute to the delight of the home crowd. Just five minutes later, Fatimoh Adesina doubled the lead with a brilliantly executed free-kick that left the Rwandan goalkeeper stranded.
After the break, Janet Akekoromowei extended Nigeria’s lead in the 64th minute with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box. Rwanda attempted to rally late on but were denied a consolation goal in the 79th minute by goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, whose sharp reflexes frustrated the visitors.
In stoppage time, Taiwo Afolabi capped off the rout with a well-taken fourth goal, sealing a comprehensive win for the hosts.
Speaking after the match, Falconets Head Coach Moses Aduku praised his players for their discipline and improvement, noting that the team had carefully studied footage from the first leg in Kigali.
“We worked on our finishing, and I am happy the girls delivered. Credit also goes to Rwanda; they fought hard and never gave up until the final whistle,” Aduku said.
On his part, Rwanda’s coach Andre Cassa-mbungo admitted his side lost to a superior team but stressed that his relatively youthful squad had gained valuable experience.
“Most of my players are still developing. In a few years, Rwanda will be stronger at this level,” he noted.
With this emphatic win, Nigeria now advance to face the winner between Senegal and Algeria in the final qualification round for the World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Poland in 2026.
The Falconets, two-time runners-up in the competition, are seeking to maintain their record of never missing a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002.
