Falconets Cruise Past Rwanda to Reach Next Round of World Cup Qualifiers
Nigeria’s Falconets kept their hopes of playing at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup alive after defeating Rwanda 4-0 in Ibadan on Saturday.
The victory at the Lekan Salami Stadium gave Chris Musa Danjuma’s team a 5-0 win on aggregate, following their narrow first-leg success in Kigali.
The Falconets started strongly, with Precious Oscar scoring in the 13th minute after good work from Janet Akekoromowei on the left. Three minutes later, Fatimah Adeshina doubled the lead with a brilliant free kick that left the Rwandan goalkeeper with no chance.
Akekoromowei, who was lively throughout, added a third goal in the second half with a long-range effort that slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands. Substitute Afolabi sealed the win in stoppage time with a calm finish to make it 4-0.
The result means Nigeria advance to the third qualifying round for the Poland 2026 World Cup. They will face either Senegal or Algeria, with Senegal holding a 2-0 first-leg lead in their tie.
The Falconets, who have reached the World Cup final twice, will be aiming to continue their strong record in African qualifiers as they push for another appearance on the global stage.
