Nigerian Players Shine in Golden Boot Race at U-20 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup has reached the knockout stage, but the race for the Golden Boot is heating up for Nigeria’s Falconets.

Argentina’s Annika Paz is currently the top scorer with five goals from the group stage. Nigeria has three players among the best scorers after their impressive 10-1 win over New Caledonia.

Rivers Angels’ Ramotalahi Kareem and Winner Onajite David both have three goals each, while defender Rebecca Adegbemile has two goals. This gives Nigeria a strong presence in the individual scoring race as the tournament moves into its crucial phase.

The Golden Boot standings are tightly contested, meaning the knockout rounds could quickly change things.

Paz Leads, But Others Are Close

Paz has a slim lead with five goals, just one ahead of her closest competitors.

Right behind her are Pau Comendador and Celia Segura from Spain, England’s Rachel Maltby, North Korea’s Choe Yon A, and China PR’s Huang Jiaxin, all with four goals.

In the next group are Zuzanna Grzywinska of Poland, France’s Justine Rouquet, Kennedy Fuller and Alex Buck from the United States, Nigeria’s Winner Onajite David and Ramotalahi Kareem, Spain’s Marisa Garcia, Canada’s Annabelle Chukwu, who has Nigerian roots, and Benin’s Romaine Gandonou, all with three goals.

Adegbemile is also in the next group with two goals. With the top players close in goals, the Golden Boot race is still wide open. A strong showing in just one knockout match could change the standings significantly.

Kareem and David Make Their Mark

Kareem and David made headlines with their strong performances.

Nigeria had not scored in their first two Group F matches against Spain and China PR, but they found their rhythm against New Caledonia.

Kareem scored first from the penalty spot in the 17th minute and added another goal eight minutes later. She completed her hat-trick in the 64th minute, bringing her total to three goals.

David came in at halftime and made a big impact, scoring in the 60th minute and again in the 75th minute before finishing her hat-trick in the fourth minute of added time. Her three goals came in a second half where Nigeria scored six times, leading to a 10-1 victory that sent the Falconets to the Round of 16 with four points.

Adegbemile also joined in, scoring twice against New Caledonia in the 19th and 74th minutes.

Those goals brought her total to two in the tournament and gave Nigeria three players with at least two goals after the group stage. Kareem and David scored six of Nigeria’s ten goals, while Adegbemile’s two bring their total to eight goals, meaning they scored 80 percent of the Falconets’ goals so far.

New Benfica ladies forward Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Tosin Rafiu scored the other two goals.

Nigeria Has Golden Boot History

Nigeria’s interest in the Golden Boot has some history. Asisat Oshoala, a six-time African women’s best player, won the Golden Boot at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada with seven goals, helping the Falconets reach the final.

Oshoala is one of Nigeria’s celebrated players from this competition, and the rise of Kareem and David gives Nigeria another chance to showcase a top scorer on the world stage.

For now, both players have three goals and are two behind top scorer Paz.

England Adds More Competition

Nigeria’s next challenge adds more excitement to the scoring race. The Falconets will face England in the Round of 16 on 17 September, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

England has a Golden Boot contender too, Rachel Maltby, with four goals so far. Maltby has been one of the standout players of the tournament, especially as a defender. She scored from the penalty spot against Canada and netted a hat-trick in England’s 5-1 win over Tanzania.

Maltby has become a surprising scorer from her position, which makes the England-Nigeria match interesting for both individual and team competition.

Kareem and David will aim to increase their three goals, while Adegbemile could add to her scoring from the defense. Maltby, meanwhile, will come into the match with four goals already.

The Bigger Goal Is Still the Title

For Nigeria, while the Golden Boot is exciting, the main goal is to stay in the hunt for the World Cup title.

The Falconets have bounced back from a tough start against Spain and China, showing their attacking strength in the group stage.

Now they need to keep that confidence as they head into the knockout rounds.

Paz has the lead with five goals, while a pack of players is close behind her. Kareem and David are part of that group, and Adegbemile has added an unexpected scoring option.

The next matches will show if any of the three can seriously chase the Golden Boot. For the Falconets, the plan is clear: beat England first, and the goals and Golden Boot race will take care of themselves.