U20 WWCQ: Adukwu, Igbokwe rally Falconets for Rwanda showdown

Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, are on the brink of another historic milestone. With a 1–0 advantage from their first-leg win over Rwanda in Kigali, the team returns home to Ibadan today looking to finish the job and book their place in the final round of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

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This tie at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, is the penultimate hurdle before the last qualifying round. Nigeria is one of the few nations to have featured in every edition of the U20 Women’s World Cup, and head coach Moses Adukwu and captain Joy Igbokwe are determined to keep that record intact.

First leg performance in Kigali

Coach Adukwu opened the pre-match press conference with a mix of gratitude and realism:

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for the victory in Kigali. It was not easy, but our plans did not materialise. Why? We wanted to get the job done in Kigali and make the return match formalities. Sometimes the ball denies you what you want to do.

“I think we are on course. One of the things that we missed doing in Kigali, we want to do it in Ibadan tomorrow. And that is scoring of goals. I guess we lost some scoring chances that wrapped up the game. So we put our hearts together, worked on it, and tomorrow we are waiting for the time.”

His journey from player to coach

For Adukwu, returning to Adamasingba carries deep personal significance.

“I’ll talk about the pitch first. It’s very significant to me because I was once a player in the National U20. And this was where I played my first game, against Tanzania. This was where I played my first game. I still have the jersey. I refuse to give it out. Not even my wife can have it. So it’s very significant to me.

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“The transition from NWFL, 2019-2022, it was a learning process for me because my boss, Danjuma, I was his first assistant. We worked together and took the team to the World Cup. So transitioning right now as the head coach is not difficult because I’ve learned a lot of things from him. So I wear the shoe.”

Adjustments for the second leg

Nigeria’s narrow first-leg win has only sharpened the team’s approach for the return fixture.

“Normally, this is a home game and we need to take the game to them because relying on one goal is not enough. So we want to see how we can score early. So we are going all out to push them back so that we can conclude the game.”

The coach also highlighted the tactical balance between attack and defence:

“When I say we are going to go all out to attack them, that does not mean we will not get balance in our defence. So what we try to do is, basically, we will be attacking them with maybe 6-7 players while we have balance in our defence.

“Because numbers count when it comes to scoring of course. You can’t have one player in the box and wide open half. Because what they did in Kigali actually, they tried keeping more men behind the ball. But we were able to break it to get opportunities but we did not take it. But the same thing I know they are going to do here again. I think my girls have a good knowledge of what I want them to do.

“So we are going to break them through the wings and get into the middle. And I think with that, our defence will also be balanced because we are not going to attack with all players.”

Home crowd advantage

Adukwu believes Ibadan’s fans can play a decisive role:

“What we saw in Kigali is that we saw support from beginning to the end. We saw their fans right behind us, hitting the drum for us not to be able to communicate.

So I believe that Ibadan fans will support us to the end. And with that, it will trigger my players to play more and to give them more confidence that they are at home. So I think for Ibadan fans, I’m confident they are going to support us to the end.”

Captain Joy Igbokwe on motivation and legacy

The Falconets’ skipper, who played at the last U20 World Cup, spoke about the team’s focus after the slim win in Rwanda:

“It was a very big opportunity for us in Kigali because we did not utilise our chances. And when we came back, we have been working very hard to utilise our chances against Rwanda and score goals. Because goals are the major reason for the game tomorrow.”

On what it means to represent Nigeria:

“Well, this is not my first time being in the national team. I have been in the national team since the under-17 and I have been given the opportunity to captain the Falconets.

“We have been putting our heads together, encouraging one another that we have to make Nigeria proud, make our families proud. So by the special grace of God, we are going to qualify and get tickets for the World Cup.”

And on the importance of the fans in Ibadan:

“When we were in Kigali, we did not have any support. But I believe Nigerians that tomorrow, there will be a lot of people in the stadium to cheer us up. And their cheering will make us bring out our best and make Nigerians proud.”

A tradition to protect

Nigeria’s Falconets are not just another age-grade side. They are one of only a handful of nations to have qualified for every edition of the U20 Women’s World Cup.

READ ALSO: FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifier: Falconets secure away win in Kigali

Their consistency at youth level has long been a cornerstone of the country’s women’s football dominance. Today in Ibadan, with one foot already in the final round, the team has the chance to reaffirm that legacy.

For Coach Adukwu, it’s also personal; returning to the ground where his own journey began. For Captain Joy Igbokwe and her teammates, it’s about seizing the moment and ensuring Nigeria’s streak continues.

The message is clear: the Falconets are not just playing to win; they are playing to keep Nigeria’s flag flying at the highest stage.