By Aderonke Ojo
The Falconets, Nigeria’s Under-20 women’s national team, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda’s She-Amavubi in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifying match.
The match took place at the Kigali-Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo on Sunday.
The Falconets dominated the game, creating several chances but failing to extend their lead beyond the solitary goal by Alaba Olabiyi in the 70th minute, heading home a corner kick from Miracle Usani.
This win puts Nigeria in a favorable position ahead of the return leg, with a draw being enough to secure their passage to the next round.
The second leg is scheduled for September 27th at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
With this win, the Falconets have taken a significant step towards qualifying for the next round. Given their past performances in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where they have been runners-up twice.