U20 WWC: Two-Time Finalists Falconets Face World Champions Spain In Group F Opener

 

FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup: We will approach game against Spain like a Cup final - Aduku

 

Moses Aduku, Head Coach of Nigeria’s U20 Women National Team, Falconets, has declared that his team will throw everything into Monday’s opening match of Group F at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, in which they will confront Spain at the Stadion Sosnowiec.

 

Nigeria, two-time runners-up of the global championship that began as an U19 tournament in Canada in 2002, go up against the Spaniards from 5pm local time (4pm Nigeria time).

“We are looking forward to the match against Spain with high expectations. We are ready and set to go. Spain is a good wide no doubt; let us not forget they are champions of the world at men’s senior level. However, we will approach the game like a Cup final because we want to win. The three points will put us in good stead in our group phase campaign,” Aduku said.

 

Spain have made remarkable progress in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in the past eight years. Against all odds, they went all the way to the final in France in 2018, finishing as runners-up after a 3-1 defeat by Japan. However, Spain’s forward Patricia Guijarro won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe. Two years later, in Costa Rica, they were champions of the world, avenging their defeat to Japan four years earlier.

 

Nigeria’s Falconets have an almost-identical story. In 2010, the Falconets, against all odds, went all the way to the final, including enacting a famous penalty-shootout defeat of the United States of America in a dramatic semi final in Augsburg. A week later, after beating Colombia in the semi finals, the Falconets lost by two goals to hosts Germany in Bielefeld. However, it was the first time an African team would go that far in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Just as Spain’s Patricia Guijarro won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe awards in France in 2018, despite her team failing to lift the trophy, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala dominated the 2014 finals in Canada to the point of winning the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe. She scored seven amazing goals. But the Falconets lost by an odd goal to Germany after extra time in Montreal.

 

On Monday, at the Stadion Sosnowiec, Aduku will send out his charges against the Spaniards with clear instructions to dominate and earn the three points, ahead of their other group phase games (against China and New Caledonia) on Thursday and Sunday respectively.

 

27 Years Later: Shooting Stars Beat CS Sfaxien 1-0 As Yusuf Demands Clinical Finish In Return Leg

 

Shooting Stars head coach Salisu Yusuf says his team left goals on the pitch after beating Tunisian side CS Sfaxien 1-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg on Saturday.

The victory marked the Oluyole Warriors’ return to continental football after a 27-year absence, but Yusuf believes the scoreline flattered the visitors.

Speaking after the match in Abeokuta, the experienced coach said 3SC created enough to win by a much bigger margin.

“The game was tactical. They tried to play long balls. We tried to score more goals to no avail,” Yusuf said.  

“The game was supposed to have finished three to four-nil.”

Despite the wastefulness in front of goal, Yusuf was pleased with his side’s structure, especially in the opening 45 minutes.

“We played a very coordinated game in the first half. The pressure was more in the second half. We created more goal-scoring opportunities in the first half than the second,” he explained.

CS Sfaxien’s defensive block limited 3SC after the goal, but the hosts still manufactured several clear chances.

With only a 1-0 lead to defend, Yusuf knows the second leg in Tunisia will require a different approach.

“We are not playing the same way we played here in Tunisia. It is all about the mindset,” he said.  

“We need to defend the win to give the team confidence.”

The coach stressed that Nigerian clubs must go into North Africa with belief, not fear.

“Playing North Africans is all about mindset. As far as we can create more goal-scoring opportunities, I believe we can get a good result,” Yusuf stated.  

“If the players can tactically play according to instructions, we will get a good result there.”

Yusuf noted that the tie was only Shooting Stars’ second competitive game of the season, and fitness levels will improve.

“This is the second match of the season. The way we train now is not the way they trained before,” he said.

He also thanked fans who turned out in Abeokuta, saying their support lifted the players on a historic night.

“27 years back on the continent was a very long time. We appreciate the supporters and everyone that came out. It gave the boys courage to play this game,” Yusuf added.  

“We have played teams that have more pedigree than this and have won. I believe we can get a good result in Tunisia.”

Captain Backs Team To Finish Job

Shooting Stars captain Daniel Falke echoed his coach’s confidence.  

“We are very happy with the win. I believe we are going to Tunisia to fight and get a good result,” Falke said.

3SC will travel with a slender advantage, but CS Sfaxien will have home support in the return leg. For Yusuf’s men, the task is clear: be more clinical and defend with discipline to keep their continental dream alive.

Alert: Osun Govt Says Sports Trust Fund Website Is Not Official

 

Alert: Osun Govt Says Sports Trust Fund Website Is Not Official

The Osun State Government has issued a public alert over a fraudulent website circulating as the “Osun State Sports Trust Fund”.

In a statement, the government said the platform osunsportstrustfund.com is not owned, authorised, or operated by the Osun State Government in any capacity. Officials noted that the site was created to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

The government therefore advised citizens to disregard any information, fundraising appeals, or financial transactions emanating from the said platform. Members of the public were urged to rely only on official government channels for authentic information on sports and trust fund initiatives in the state.

FIFA U20WWC 2026: Falconets Settle In Katowice Ahead Of Spain Clash On Monday

 

FIFA U20WWC 2026: Falconets Settle In Katowice Ahead Of Spain Clash On Monday

 

Nigeria’s U20 Women’s National Team, the Falconets, departed their training base in Trzebnica on Thursday and arrived at the Novotel Katowice Centrum as preparations enter the final stretch ahead of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup kicking off in Poland on Saturday.

 

The team spent 10 days days in Trzebnica, where Head Coach Moses Aduku and his technical crew intensified work on the squad’s tactical organisation, technical execution, physical conditioning and overall team cohesion. The period also provided the players with valuable time to acclimatise to the Polish environment and build match sharpness ahead of the global tournament.

 

As part of their final build-up, the Falconets played two international friendly matches against quality opposition. They recorded an impressive 1-0 victory over hosts Poland last Friday with Mary Mamudu scoring the decisive goal in first-half. The team followed that result with a 1-1 draw against Korea Republic on Tuesday in their final warm-up match, with Mamudu also the goalscorer.

 

The two matches provided the technical crew with an opportunity to assess the team against different types of opposition, while allowing the players to further adapt to the pace, intensity and conditions expected at the World Cup. With the Trzebnica phase now completed, attention turns to Katowice, where the Falconets will establish themselves ahead of their opening Group F encounter against Spain on Monday.

 

Nigeria is drawn alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia in Group F. After the match against Spain on Monday, the Falconets will then confront China PR on 10th September and New Caledonia on 13th September.

 

Chelle Taps Ikorodu City Boss, Flying Eagles Assistant For Olympic Eagles Job

 

Chelle Taps Ikorodu City Boss, Flying Eagles Assistant For Olympic Eagles Job

 

Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle has appointed the duo of Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and Deniran Ortega as his two assistant coaches for the Nigerian Olympic Team. 

Eric Chelle who doubles as the gaffer of the Nigeria Olympic Eagles, says Ortega and Bright are some of the brightest young coaches in Nigeria with very impressive profiles and he is very happy to work with them in the Olympic team.

Coach Bright Ozebagbe is currently the Technical Adviser of Premier League side Ikorodu City who narrowly missed a continental ticket on the final day of last season  while Coach Ortega is a Uefa licensed coach, trained by the Scottish Football Association. He is currently one of the assistant coaches with the Nigeria Flying Eagles Team.

Eric Chelle who has already briefed the leadership of the National Sports Commission on his plans and preparations towards securing qualification for the Olympic games, will open camping soon in Abuja ahead of the team's qualifiers slated for the month of November 2026.

The Nigerian Olympic teams- both male and female, are under the supervision of the National Sports Commission, NSC, who are determined to not only qualify the country's football to the Olympic games but ensure the team secures podium placement in Los Angeles.