In a surprising turn of events, Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s team, Falconets, bowed out of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland on Sunday afternoon. After a nail-biting match against Colombia, Valerin Loboa scored a dramatic winner in the 92nd minute, eliminating Nigeria from the competition. Despite this disappointing exit, head coach Moses Aduku remains optimistic, according to reports by Premium Times Nigeria and Daily Post Nigeria.
In an interview with Premium Times Nigeria, Aduku spoke about the importance of the tournament for his young squad, stating, ‘While it’s disappointing to exit at this stage, I believe that this experience will be invaluable for our players.’
Aduku highlighted the developmental aspect of the competition, emphasizing the growth and learning opportunities the team has gained. The coach also expressed pride in his team’s performances throughout the tournament.
The Falconets had shown great potential during their matches against Mexico and South Korea, with standout performances from players like Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne. However, they were unable to overcome Colombia in a tight quarter-final match that went down to the wire.
As Colombia move on to the semi-finals, eyes are now on the U-20 World Cup final, which will take place on October 1st. Meanwhile, Aduku and the Falconets will be focusing on regrouping and preparing for future competitions.
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