Nigeria’s Falconets have hit the ground running in Poland, intensifying their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup following their arrival in Trzebnica.
The two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finalists commenced training on Wednesday at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena, with Head Coach Moses Aduku and his technical crew putting the players through their paces in a session marked by intensity, focus and determination.
The team’s early work has centred on tactical organisation, technical execution, physical conditioning and building greater understanding among the players, as the Falconets continue to fine-tune their preparations for the championship.
Nigeria will have two important opportunities to gauge its readiness before the tournament, with international friendlies against hosts Poland on 28 August and South Korea on 1 September. The match against Poland will be played at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg at 12 noon local time, while the encounter with South Korea will take place at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium at 4pm local time.
The friendly fixtures are expected to play a crucial role in the team’s final preparations, allowing the technical crew to evaluate the players, test tactical options and make necessary adjustments ahead of the competition.
Following the unavailability of captain Joy Igbokwe and defender Faridat Abdulwahab, who were unable to secure visas, Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi have been brought into the squad as replacements.
The Falconets will compete in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia. They will open their campaign against Spain on 7 September, take on China PR three days later and round off the group stage against New Caledonia on 13 September.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, the Falconets will remain focused on sharpening their game and building the confidence required to compete at the highest level.
Having finished runners-up in 2010 and 2014, Nigeria will be hoping to turn years of near misses into glory in Poland by winning the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
