By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Falconets of Nigeria on Saturday at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Dianiades Senegal showed stuff cracking the Lionesses of Senegal 2-1 to move to the last phase of the CAF U20 women world cup qualifiers.

The two Nigerian goals were via super headers, first in the 19th minute of play from a corner kick Kindness Ifeanyi who scored the only goal in Abeokuta last Saturday and the second also a header from Preciuos Oscar in the second half while Senegal got a consolatory goal from a goal mouth melee later bringing Nigeria victorious via a 3-1 goals aggregate.

Nigeria had injury challenges that she had to draft U17 goalkeeper, Elizabeth Boniface to camp to    replace goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho who fainted during training last Monday. Top striker, Janet Akekoromowei will be off the field for eight weeks after she had a broken bone from her twisted ankle and was rushed in an ambulance to the hospital in Abeokuta during the first leg. Three top defenders, Hana of Remo Stars; Mistura of FC Robo and Oluchi of Nasarawa Queens also have injuries. 

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. 

Results of the pending matches played this weekend are available to Patmos Media Line. Cameroon dismissed Botswana 5-1 on aggregate after losing 0-1 in the 2nd leg; Tanzania stopped Kenya 3-1 on penalties as both legs ended 1-1. Cameroon will meet Tanzania in the last 4th round matches.

Bayana Bayana of South Africa will not be at the world U20 finals as Black Queens of Ghana edged her 3-2 aggregate winning the 2nd leg by a lone goal; Uganda beat Zambia 2-1 on aggregate winning the 2nd leg by a lone goal and will face Ghana in the 4th round.

The DR Congo women also lost to Ivory Coast 2-1 on aggregate as they could not make up the 2nd leg that thy lost by a lone goal at home; Egyptian women were shocked by the Republic of Benin women that dismissed them 5-0 on aggregate after winning the 2nd leg at home 4-0. So Ivory Coast and Benin will meet in the 4th round. 

Malawi outwitted Guinea Bissau 6-2 on aggregate winning the 2nd leg 5-1 in Blantyre and will meet Nigeria who defeated Senegal 3-1 on aggregate after 2-1 victory of the 2nd leg just now.

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. The four teams that emerge victorious from Africa will be at the world cup.