The Falconets have sent a clear message to the rest of the world, outplaying England to secure a commanding 3-0 win in their Round of 16 clash at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Coach Moses Aduku believes the Young Lionesses paid the price for underestimating his determined Nigerian side.
Nigeria, who advanced from the group stage as runners-up, came out firing from the start at the Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała. Their aggressive approach paid off quickly when Tosin Rafiu found the back of the net in the eighth minute, giving the Falconets a deserved early lead. The team continued to press, with Ramotalahi Kareem and Precious Oscar both creating chances to extend their advantage against a visibly unsettled England defence.
England did manage to find some rhythm and mounted pressure. Players like Lily Dent, Princess Ademiluyi, and Rachel Maltby tested Nigeria’s backline. However, the Falconets’ defensive organisation was superb, frustrating the English attack. A major turning point came in the 33rd minute when a VAR review awarded England a penalty. Rachel Maltby stepped up, but Nigeria's goalkeeper, Christiana Uzoma, made a crucial save, preserving the narrow lead.
Uzoma was instrumental in the first half, pulling off several key saves to ensure Nigeria went into the break ahead.
The Falconets returned for the second half with even more conviction. Just two minutes after the restart, Janet Akekoromowei doubled Nigeria’s lead with a clinical finish in the 47th minute, putting the Young Lionesses in a desperate position. Coach Aduku then made a tactical substitution in the 61st minute, bringing on Mary Mamudu for Ramotalahi Kareem. The change paid off spectacularly, as Mamudu scored within 12 minutes of entering the pitch, sealing the 3-0 victory in the 73rd minute after a deflected assist from Precious Oscar.
Following the impressive win, Coach Aduku stated his belief that England had not given his team enough credit. "The English team is a very good side and I think they underrated us. They never believed that we could play up to this level," he told FIFA Media. Aduku reminded his players that the tournament was far from over, even amidst the celebrations. "After the group stage that the World Cup is just starting. After the game, I told the players, ‘This game is gone. Let’s have a short celebration because we have the next game to play, so let’s focus on the next one.'"
Janet Akekoromowei, who was deservedly named Player of the Match for her standout performance and goal, echoed the coach's sentiments about the team's focus. "The reason why we are here is to take the Cup home. We are going to give our all," she declared. "Our coach pushes us and we push ourselves on and off the pitch. We stay focused and determined."
Coach Aduku sees this victory as proof of the talent within his squad but stressed the need for continued hard work. "I think the girls are doing well. We need to do more," he said. The Falconets now face a stern test in the quarter-finals against Colombia, who narrowly defeated hosts Poland 1-0 in their own Round of 16 tie.
The quarter-final match is scheduled for Sunday at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium in Łódź, kicking off at 2 p.m. Nigerian time. For the Falconets, the focus has already shifted from their historic win over England to the next challenge on their quest for the World Cup trophy.