Falconets to Face Rwanda in U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, will begin their journey to the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup with a tough match against Rwanda in the second round of the African qualifiers.
The Falconets, who have qualified for the World Cup 11 times and finished as runners-up twice, were given a bye into the second round because of their strong record in previous competitions.
Their opponents, Rwanda, earned their place by beating Zimbabwe in the first round. After winning 2-1 away in Harare, the Rwandan team held Zimbabwe to a goalless draw at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday to progress.
This will be the first time Nigeria and Rwanda meet in a competitive match at U20 level. The first leg will be played on 18 September in Kigali, while the second leg is set for 27 September in Nigeria.
Only four African teams will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. The qualifying tournament has four knockout rounds, with countries across Africa fighting for a ticket to the global stage.
Nigeria are strong favourites going into the qualifiers. The Falconets have never lost a qualifying match in Africa, recording 44 wins and just three draws since the tournament began.
They are also the only African country to have qualified for every edition of the U20 Women’s World Cup since it started in 2002. Nigeria finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014, both times losing to Germany in the final.
Rwanda, on the other hand, are hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time in their history. They face a big challenge against a Nigerian side known for its experience, strength, and success in youth football.
Other second-round matches include South Sudan vs Djibouti (with South Sudan leading 5-0 after the first leg), Ethiopia vs Kenya, Tanzania vs Angola, Uganda vs Namibia, and Burundi vs Zambia — all scheduled for September.
