Aduku sets Falconets target of 2026 U-20 World Cup title

Nigeria coach Moses Aduku has set the Falconets the target of winning the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland 2026. The team left Nigeria after completing its final preparations in Abuja, with Aduku saying the squad is travelling with the intention of competing for the title rather than making up the numbers.

The Falconets have trained across physical conditioning, tactical organisation, teamwork and mental preparation. Aduku has also stressed that fitness alone will not be enough, urging his players to develop the mindset required to challenge the strongest teams in the competition.

Nigeria qualified after progressing through three rounds. The Falconets defeated Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate, overcame Senegal 3-1 on aggregate and then edged Malawi 3-2 on aggregate in the final qualifying round.

The squad was due to use friendly matches against hosts Poland and the Republic of Korea to test its readiness against high-quality opposition before the tournament. Those games were intended to help Aduku assess his players as the team moved into the final stage of preparation.

Nigeria will open its Group F campaign against Spain on September 7, followed by meetings with China on September 10 and New Caledonia on September 13. Aduku has told the players to accept the pressure that comes with representing a country with a strong record in the competition.

The Falconets have reached the final twice, finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014, but Nigeria has never won the trophy. The team is also the only African side to have appeared at every edition since the competition began in 2002. Aduku now wants this generation to turn that long-standing presence and previous final appearances into Nigeria’s first world title at this level.