Nigeria’s Falconets have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after producing a commanding 3–0 victory over England in their Round of 16 encounter in Poland on Thursday.
The result at Stadion Miejski in Bielsko-Biała saw Moses Aduku’s side take another step towards the title, with Nigeria now among the final eight teams competing for the world crown.
The Falconets needed only eight minutes to make their mark. Tosin Rafiu broke the deadlock with an early goal, giving Nigeria the advantage and setting the tone for an encounter in which the team maintained control at crucial moments.
England were presented with a major opportunity to level the contest before half-time when they were awarded a penalty. Rachel Maltby stepped forward to take the spot-kick, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper and captain, Christiana Uzoma, produced an important save to keep England off the scoresheet. Nigeria therefore carried a 1–0 lead into the interval.
The second half began with another decisive moment for the Falconets. Just two minutes after the restart, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei found the net to double Nigeria’s advantage and put England under increasing pressure.
England attempted to respond, but the Falconets remained firm before Mary Mamudu delivered the decisive blow in the 73rd minute. Her goal completed Nigeria’s three-goal haul and effectively settled the tie.
The emphatic victory continues an extraordinary turnaround in Nigeria’s campaign. The Falconets opened their Group F journey with a 2–0 defeat to Spain and followed it with a goalless draw against China, leaving them with just one point from their first two matches.
Everything changed in their final group fixture.
Nigeria dismantled New Caledonia 10–1, finishing second in Group F with four points and earning passage into the knockout rounds. That result also set up a Round of 16 meeting with England, who finished third in Group B.
The latest victory means Nigeria have scored 13 goals across their last two matches, following their failure to score in either of their opening two group games.
For a team with a proud history at this competition, the journey now enters another important stage. Nigeria have finished as runners-up at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup twice, but the Falconets are still searching for their first championship title.
With England now behind them, Aduku’s team will turn their attention to the quarter-finals, carrying the momentum of two successive high-scoring victories and a renewed opportunity to add another chapter to Nigeria’s record at the global tournament.
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