Head coach of Nigeria U20 women’s national team, Moses Aduku, has expressed confidence in his side’s progress in camp as they intensify preparations for their upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, www.aclsports.com reports.
The newly appointed Falconets coach has had the team in camp for the past three weeks, building towards the second-round clash of the qualifiers. The World Cup is scheduled to take place in the Netherlands in 2026.
Speaking during an interview in camp, Aduku admitted that the first few days were tough for the players due to their long layoff, but said they have since regained momentum and are responding well to training.
“So far, so good, the players are responding to training,” Aduku said.
“At the beginning, the first week was tough because they had been laid off for about two months due to the off-season. But now they are back, and we’ve been pushing, especially in terms of conditioning. In three weeks, we’ve done a lot, but we still have a lot to do.”
Looking ahead to the double-header against Rwanda, Aduku stressed that his side will not underestimate their opponents.
“In Africa now, everyone is aware that women’s football is growing drastically, so no country is a pushover, Rwanda is not an exception,” he explained.
“We were privileged to get a clip of their qualifying game, which they won against Mozambique. We sat down with the players, we watched, and we saw how they play. They are beatable, but they are a good side. They have some speedy players and good team players, but we will be able to neutralise them with our strategy. With at least two more weeks to prepare, I believe the girls will be ready to face them and do the needful.”
Team captain Joy Igbokwe also shared her thoughts ahead of the encounter. The midfielder said she feels honoured to be part of the squad and is confident the Falconets will rise to the occasion.
“Firstly, I would say I am privileged to be part of the team,” Igbokwe said.
“With our training sessions, we’ve been putting in our efforts towards the game. We know Rwanda is a good side, so are we. We’ve been working very hard through our training sessions and friendly games, putting our heads together, working as a team. By the special grace of God, our first match against Rwanda will be a success.”
The Falconets will face Rwanda in Kigali on Sunday, 21st September, before hosting the return fixture at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Saturday, 27th September, as they aim to book their place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
