Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, produced a scintillating performance at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Saturday, crushing Rwanda 4-0 to advance in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Backed by a lively Ibadan crowd, the Falconets built on their 1-0 first-leg advantage in Kigali to secure a 5-0 aggregate win. The hosts set the tone early as Janet Akekoromewei’s dazzling run created space for Precious Oscar to open the scoring in the 13th minute. Moments later, Tumininu Adesina stunned the visitors with a corner kick that sailed directly into the net, doubling Nigeria’s lead.
The second half brought even more dominance. In the 60th minute, Janet Akekoromewei fired a powerful shot from distance to extend the lead, before Taiwo Afolabi added a fourth goal in stoppage time to complete the rout. The emphatic result means Nigeria now progresses to the third round of the qualifiers, where they will face either Senegal or Algeria for a place in Poland 2026.
Adding glamour to the evening, Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, announced a $15,000 cash reward for the Falconets in recognition of their outstanding performance. The governor, who watched the game alongside jubilant fans, praised the players for bringing pride to the nation and for lighting up Ibadan with their talent and determination.
The victory not only secured Nigeria’s advancement in the qualifiers but also turned Ibadan into a carnival of football celebration, leaving supporters confident in the Falconets’ chances of reaching the global stage in 2026.
