Nigeria’s Falconets claimed a narrow 1–0 victory over Senegal on Saturday night in the first leg of their 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying clash in Abeokuta.
Despite dominating large spells of the encounter and creating several scoring opportunities, head coach Moses Aduku’s side managed just one goal to separate the teams. That decisive moment arrived shortly after halftime, when substitute Kindness Ifeanyi powered home a header from a corner kick to give Nigeria the advantage.
Ifeanyi, who had been introduced moments earlier, struck in the 50th minute to reward the Falconets’ pressure and hand them a slim lead ahead of the return leg. The home side, however, will rue missed chances that could have widened the margin.
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Nigeria were also dealt a blow during the match as leading scorer Janet Akekoromowei Seimeyeha was forced off with an injury, leaving the Falconets without their most potent attacking threat for much of the contest.
The reverse fixture is scheduled for Saturday, 14 February, at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès, Senegal, where the Falconets will look to protect their advantage and seal progression to the next round.
The winner of the tie will advance to face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi in the final round of African qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, set to be hosted in Poland.
