Moses Aduku believes England paid the price for underestimating Nigeria after the Falconets swept the Young Lionesses aside 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria produced a commanding display in their Round of 16 meeting in Bielsko-Biala, with Tosin Rafiu, Janet Akekoromowei and Mary Mamudu finding the net to send the Falconets into the final eight.
The result also extended Nigeria’s unbeaten record against England at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, with the Falconets having now won two of their four meetings and drawn the other two.
Aduku believes England had not fully appreciated what his team were capable of before the knockout encounter.
“The English team is a very good side, and I think they underrated us; they never believed that we could play up to this level,” Aduku said.
“But I said after the group stage that the World Cup is just starting.”
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The Nigerian coach had good reason to be pleased with how his players responded to the challenge. Rafiu struck in the eighth minute before Akekoromowei doubled the advantage two minutes after half time, while Mamudu completed the scoring 17 minutes from full time.
Akekoromowei’s contribution earned further recognition when she was named Player of the Match. The Benfica striker produced a composed performance and marked it with a superb left-footed volley for Nigeria’s second goal.
Rafiu had earlier provided the breakthrough with an impressive individual effort, driving down the left before cutting inside and firing past England goalkeeper Katie Cox.
The Falconets also had goalkeeper and captain Christiana Uzoma to thank for maintaining their advantage before the interval. She denied Rachel Maltby from the penalty spot, pushing the England forward’s effort onto the crossbar.
The coach, however, feels the emphatic victory is already in the past.
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“[After the game] I told the players, this game is gone. Let’s have a short celebration because we have the next game to play, so let’s focus on the next one.”
That next challenge will come in the quarterfinals on Sunday, September 20, when Nigeria face either hosts Poland or Colombia in Łódź.
The Falconets, two-time runners-up at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, have now scored 13 goals in four matches in Poland, including the 10-1 demolition of New Caledonia in the group stage, while keeping clean sheets in their last two games.
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