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By Joe Apu
Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, have declared their readiness for today’s third-round, first-leg fixture against Senegal in the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Friday, Head Coach Moses Aduku and team captain Joy Igbokwe expressed confidence in the squad’s preparation and mindset ahead of the crucial two-legged tie.
Aduku revealed that the team has undergone intensive training in camp and remains fully focused on the task at hand. He stressed that the technical crew approaches every match with the seriousness of a final to maintain sharpness and the right competitive mentality.
“The players are fit, focused and ready. We have worked very hard in camp, and we approach every match with the seriousness of a final to maintain the right mentality and match sharpness,” Aduku said.
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Captain Igbokwe echoed her coach’s optimism, describing the squad as united and fully aware of the importance of the encounter. She assured that the Falconets are determined to deliver a strong performance at home before taking the same level of commitment into the return leg in Senegal.
Providing a squad update, Aduku disclosed that two players who sustained minor knocks are being managed cautiously and have resumed light training, while another player has fully recovered from illness.
The coach also called on Nigerian football fans to turn out in large numbers, noting that strong home support would boost the players’ confidence and performance.
“The support of our fans will be very important to us, especially playing at home. It gives the players extra confidence and motivation,” he added.
Today’s match will be played at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, with the return leg scheduled for February 14 in Dakar.
