Nigeria’s U20 women’s team booked their place in the third round of the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a commanding 4-0 win over Rwanda in Ibadan on Saturday.
The Falconets, who carried a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Kigali, completed a 5-0 aggregate victory at the Lekan Salami Stadium to underline their status as one of Africa’s strongest sides at youth level.
Janet Akekoromowei set the tone early, creating the opener in the 13th minute with a driving run down the left before setting up Precious for a calm finish.
Three minutes later, Fatimah Adeshina doubled the lead with a stunning free kick that left the Rwandan goalkeeper rooted.
The hosts maintained their dominance after the break, and Akekoromowei was rewarded for her relentless display with a long-range strike on the hour mark to make it 3-0.
Substitute Afolabi added a fourth deep into stoppage time to seal the emphatic win.
With the result, Nigeria advances to face either Senegal or Algeria in the next round.
Senegal, holding a 2-0 first-leg lead over Algeria, remain favourites to set up a showdown with the Falconets in what is expected to be a high-stakes contest for a ticket to Poland 2026.
