By

Ejiola Olatunji 

The Super Falconets of Nigeria on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta Ogun State before a scanty crowd had an impaired low flight into the qualification for the CAF U20 women’s football title with a slim one goal victory over adamant Lionesses de la Teranga of Senegal.

Coach Moses Aduku who observed that the Senegalese women were bent on frustrating his girls who were not good at shots on target at goal, made two brisk changes in the 49th minute of play that earned Nigeria a corner kick which Tumininu lifted in a telepathic pass and Kindness Ifeanyi who had not played for three minutes powerfully nodded it in with efficient Odontoid bones meant for headers in the 51st minute for the lone goal. Kindness was not kind with the goal that displaced four players including the goalkeeper and it obviously pained the Senegalese.

Nigeria lamented injuries as Janet was stretchered off in the first half indicating she may miss the return leg. Dependable players, Oluchi Ohaegbulam and Mistura Yusuf could not play in Abeokuta because of injuries but the duo that had light training on Thursday will be fielded in the return leg match.  Hannah Ayoade was also sick and missed training on Thursday.

Despite repeated announcements by the Ogun State Government that gates will be free for fans to mark her 50 years of creation as a state, fans preferred to sit at home and watch the match. Nigeria’s Coach had pleaded at the Press Conference on Thursday that his team will appreciate a massive turn out by fans as they plan to pump goals into the Senegalese net both ideas failed.

Nigeria will be away to Senegal on the 14th February making the girls miss their Valentine gigs. The winner will proceed to meet the winner between Guinea Bissau and Malawi for a slot in the CAF semifinal and automatic ticket for the world cup. That will be the 4th round of which the 1st leg is scheduled for 1st to 3rd of May and the 2nd leg for 8th to 10th May 2026.

To reach the 3rd stage, Nigeria had beaten Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate winning away 0-1 and at home 4-0 while Senegal dismissed Algeria 6-0 on aggregate winning 2-0 away and 4-0 at home.

Senegal has never beaten Nigeria in the three times they met. Senegal lost at home on 12th March 2022 1-3 and Nigeria slammed her 4-1 on 26th March 2022 before the last time both met on 11th March 2024 which Nigeria won 4-0 all in the CAF U20 play out. Nigeria’s 3rd goal the last time they met at Cape Coast Stadium it was an own goal by A. Kelas.

Senegal has never played in the last four of CAF U20 tournament neither has she gone for the world cup. In 11 appearances of the Falconets at CAF U20 tournaments the team has won the title 11 times in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, (No competition in 2020), 2022 and 2024. Since 2002 Nigeria has won the world cup Silver twice in Germany 2010 and Canada 2014; placed 4th at Japan 2012 and got to the quarterfinals 5 times. 

Six of the 8 games to be played in this round will be decided today Saturday while two others Ghana versus South Africa and Ivory Coast against DR Congo will be played tomorrow. In some of the matches, Tanzania lost at home to Kenya by a lone goal; Uganda and Zimbabwe played 1-1; Egypt lost at home to Benin Republic by a lone goal. As at the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s next possible opponents Guinea Bissau and Malawi were in a goalless draw with about 30 minutes to play ditto Cameroon that was leading Botswana by 2-0 also with same time to go.

Nigeria and Senegal winner will meet Guinea Bissau versus Malawi winner for a semifinal ticket and automatic flight flight to the world cup finals. That will be in the 4th round of which the 1st leg will be played 1st to 3rd May and the 2nd leg 8th to 10th May 2026.

The world cup final is scheduled to take place 5th to 27th September 2026 in Poland.