Falconets lose first match at U-20 Women's World Cup

Nigeria’s Falconets started their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a loss. They were beaten 2-0 by former champions Spain in their Group F match in Poland on Monday.

Spain, the winners in 2022, dominated most of the game at Arena Sosnowiec. They took the lead in the 13th minute thanks to Marisa García.

García scored after Noemí Bejarano made a good run down the flank. Bejarano sent in a low cross into the box, and García finished it to put Spain ahead.

The Falconets struggled to create good chances in the first half. They had to wait until the 37th minute for their first attempt, with Kafayat Mafisere shooting wide from outside the box.

Second Half Changes

After the break, Nigeria came back with more attacking energy. Precious Oscar and Victory Lucky were brought on as Nigeria looked for an equaliser.

But Spain remained a threat. Goalkeeper Laia López made sure to stop Nigeria’s attempts while Spain held on to their lead.

Spain extended their lead in the 73rd minute. Alba Cerrato took advantage of a poor clearance and beat Christiana Uzoma, making it 2-0.

This loss means Nigeria has no points after the first round of Group F matches. China PR is now at the top after defeating New Caledonia 5-0 earlier on Monday.

The Falconets will play against China on Thursday. They know they need a good result to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.

Nigeria still has a chance to move forward despite this setback. The top two teams in each of the six groups and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.

The Falconets are one of the most experienced teams in this tournament. They were runners-up in 2010 and 2014 and reached the knockout stage in eight of their last nine appearances before this year.

The 2026 tournament is taking place in Poland from September 5 to 27, with 24 teams competing in six groups.