Nigeria’s U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, defeated Rwanda 1-0 at the Kigali Pelé Stadium on Sunday to take a first-leg lead in their FIFAU20WWC qualifier, www.aclsports.com reports.
Folajomi Alaba Olabiyi got the goal in the 70th minute, heading home from a Miracle Usani corner to hand Head Coach Moses Aduku a winning start in his first outing with the team. The pair had combined smartly on the left flank to win the corner, and from the resulting delivery Olabiyi made no mistake, powering in the decisive header.
After a gritty first half in which Nigeria controlled much of the play, their best chance came in the 42nd minute when Faridat Abdulwahab’s long pass released Precious Oscar. She beat her marker and rounded the Rwandan goalkeeper, but with the goal gaping, she failed to convert, and the half ended goalless.
The return leg takes place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, 27 September, with Nigeria looking to move a step closer to one of Africa’s four slots at the 24-team FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, scheduled for 5–27 September 2026.
