By Amaechi Agbo
New head coach Moses Aduku has invited 35 players to the camp of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets, to kick off preparations for next month’s 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against their Rwandan counterparts.
The Rwandans will host the first leg of the second-round games in Kigali on Sunday, 21st September, with the return leg scheduled for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday, 27th September.
There are four goalkeepers, 11 defenders, nine midfielders and 11 strikers on the list, with the cohort to resume in camp in Abuja on Sunday, 10th August while training sessions commence the following day.
Aduku has called a number of players who were part of the team that reached the Round of 16 at the 2024 FIFA World Cup finals in Colombia last year, namely defender and captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, midfielder Joy Igbokwe, and forwards Mary Lucky Mkpa and Goodness Osigwe.
Last year’s edition welcomed 24 teams to the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals for the first time. The Falconets defeated Korea Republic 1-0 in their opening game, lost 1-3 to Germany and defeated Venezuela 4-0, before they were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a narrow 1-2 loss to Japan.
Next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Poland.
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