Falconets ramp up training for U-20 World Cup in Poland

Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s National Team, known as the Falconets, are stepping up their preparations for the 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup. They have settled into their training base in Trzebnica, Poland, ahead of the big tournament, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.

The two-time U-20 Women’s World Cup silver medalists hit the field on Wednesday for their first training session at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena. Players and coaches showed great focus as they get ready for the competition.

After arriving in Poland on Tuesday, the girls quickly got to work. Head Coach Moses Aduku and his team structured the training around tactics, ball handling, fitness, and team unity.

To further sharpen the squad, they have planned two warm-up matches. Nigeria will face the hosts, Poland, on Friday, August 28, and will play South Korea on Tuesday, September 1.

These matches will help the players adjust to playing in Europe. They will also face different styles of play and help the coaches understand how ready the team is before the tournament starts.

The match against Poland will take place at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg, starting at 12 noon local time. The game against South Korea will be held at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium later that day at 4 pm local time.

There have been some late changes to Aduku’s squad. Team captain Joy Igbokwe and defender Faridat Abdulwahab could not travel due to visa issues. As a result, Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi have been brought in as replacements.

Nigeria will face tough competition in Group F, where they have been drawn with Spain, China PR, and New Caledonia. The Falconets will kick off their campaign against Spain on September 7, then play China PR on September 10, and finish the group stage against New Caledonia on September 13.

Nigeria secured their spot in the World Cup after defeating Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate. They also beat Senegal 3-1 and managed to get past Malawi with a 3-2 win across two legs.

Before leaving their camp in Abuja, Coach Aduku expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress.

"The players have been adequately prepared both physically and mentally. We are heading to Poland with a strong winning mentality and the singular ambition of challenging for the trophy," Aduku said.

Nigeria is the only African country that has played in every edition of the tournament since it started in Canada 24 years ago. They hope to win their first title after finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014 when the tournament begins in Poland.