U-20 Women’s World Cup (Q): Nigeria survive Malawi scare to book Poland flight

Nigeria’s Falconets lost 2-1 to Malawi’s Junior Scorchers in Lilongwe but still booked their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final place in Poland via an aggregate score of 3-2 on Saturday, 9 May 2026.

Nigeria’s Falconets lost 2-1 to Malawi in Lilongwe on Saturday but still booked their Under-20 Women’s World Cup final ticket 3-2 on aggregate. Despite Faith Chinzimu (left) scoring a double, Malawi’s curse of failing at the last hurdle continues. pic.twitter.com/LEd8gj25zm

— Peter Kanjere (@KanjerePeter) May 9, 2026

The Falconets went into the Women’s World Cup final qualifying round second leg carrying a 2-0 lead from the home leg played last Saturday at Remo Stars Stadium.

Ahead of the decisive tie, the Junior Scorchers coach Maggie Chombo reshuffled her line up with five players—Emily Nkhwazi (goalkeeper), Anna Bazilio, Talandira Chinyamula, Victoria Mkwala and Linda Manda—who featured in the away leg, relegated to the bench.

Malawi reshuffle line up for Nigeria’s Falconets

Instead, senior team second choice keeper Esther Maulidi got the nod, with other additions being Effa Msukwa, Grace Kakangula, Sweden-based Faith Chinzimu and Rose Kabzere from French side Montpellier.

Chinzimu, fresh from winning the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup with BK Häcken, partnered Kabzere in France in attack.

Malawi threatened to wipe out Nigeria’s lead and drag the contest into decisive penalties after enjoying a bright start on an equally sunny afternoon in the capital city.

Faith Chinzimu opens scoring

The hosts, roared on by a sizeable crowd that accessed the stadium free of charge, got the start they wanted as Chinzimu justified her late inclusion with a goal in the ninth minute.

The 19-year-old striker made the most of Olivia Phikani’s freekick to head the ball into the net and torch celebrations from the home crowd. Chombo’s girls led 1-0 at the break.

When play resumed, Chinzimu needed only 10 minutes on the pitch to extend the Junior Scorchers’ lead.

Oscar Precious deflates home crowd, confirms U-20 Women’s World Cup qualification for Falconets

Six minutes later, the visitors reduced the arrears through Oscar Precious after a defensive mix up, to dampen the mood among the home fans. Nigeria should have added more goals, but they were let down by wayward finishing.

The home victory for the Moses Aduku’s girls proved decisive as they confirmed their place at the World Cup scheduled for Poland in September 2026.