Falconets coach Aduku confident ahead of U-20 WWC qualifying second leg

Nigeria U-20 women’s national team coach Moses Aduku is confident that his Falconets will overcome hosts Senegal in Saturday’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup third-round, second-leg qualifying encounter despite the absence of top striker Janet Akekoromowei.

​Akekoromowei sustained an injury and was substituted in the first half of last Saturday’s first leg in Abeokuta. She has been left out of the squad traveling to Dakar on Wednesday morning.

Kindness Ifeanyi picked up the scoring responsibilities and delivered the only goal in Nigeria’s 1-0 first leg victory.

📽 From the stands…

🇳🇬Kindness Ifeanyi’s brilliant header for the 🇳🇬Falconets to earn a hard fought 1-0 win over Senegal 🇸🇳 #SoarFalconets pic.twitter.com/XxenE6hNcO

— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) February 7, 2026

​Speaking via a press release, Aduku stated that the team will play with focus and determination to overcome their hosts.

“We will overcome because we have reviewed the match and taken a lot of lessons on board. I commend the girls for regrouping after a tough first half, adjusting tactics and showing character in the second half. We could have won by more goals because we created a number of opportunities in that second period.

In Senegal, we must defend resolutely and attack with purpose. We will play with focus and determination.”

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed officials from the Kingdom of Morocco to take charge of the second-leg match at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal’s third-largest city, located 70 kilometers from the capital, Dakar.

​Zakia El Grini will serve as the referee, assisted by Karima Khadiri (AR1) and Ihsane Ennouajeli Nouajli (AR2), with Zoulaikha Harmasse as the fourth official. Oumou Souleymane Kane from Mauritania will serve as the match commissioner, while Kenyan Alice Kimani will act as the referee assessor.

​The winner on aggregate will progress to the final round of the African qualifiers. The final tournament is scheduled to take place in Poland in September 2026.