Nigeria’s Falconets are in Kigali ahead of Sunday’s 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, with head coach Moses Aduku urging supporters to keep faith with the team.
The squad arrived in the Rwandan capital on Friday and held a light recovery session in their hotel gym after a long journey. Only 19 players made the trip following a five-week camp that trimmed the squad down from 35.
“Well, first and foremost, I want to thank God for the preparation. Five weeks plus, it has been tough,” Aduku said.
“You know, from the beginning, 35 players and now 19. You know, it has not been easy, but honestly, I must give it to the guys. They went through conditioning, techniques, tactics, you know, and right now we’re on the same page. So it’s time for execution, and I believe that the girls will do us proud. So preparation is good.”
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The Falconets have played in every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since 2002 and twice finished as runners-up. For Aduku, the target is to keep Nigeria among the world’s best by making a strong start in Kigali.
“Yeah, honestly, we want to do something,” he added.
“We want to see how we can see that the second leg, you know, it’s not going to be easy, but that’s what we are planning. To go all out in Rwanda to conclude the game. But I know they are not a pushover.
“They won their last game against Zimbabwe. So therefore, we know they are a good side. We’ve also watched them. But all the same, I’m telling the fans to pray for us, and also we’ll come back with results.”
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Sierra Leone Aminata Fullah will be the referee, with Liberian officials Hannah Lydia Moses and Love Tuu Wehyee serving as assistants. Kick-off is 3pm local time (2pm Nigeria).
Rwanda go into the tie buoyed by their first-round win over Zimbabwe, while Nigeria will host the second leg six days later in Ibadan.
