Falconets take first leg lead over Malawi
Nigeria’s U20 women’s national team, the Falconets, moved a step closer to the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup with a composed 2-0 victory over Malawi in their final qualifying round first leg at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday.
After a dominant but goalless first half, the Falconets found their breakthrough immediately after the restart. Sustained pressure inside Malawi’s penalty area forced Maureen Kenneth into an unfortunate own goal just a minute into the second half, handing Nigeria a deserved lead.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Falconets continued to dictate the tempo and were rewarded again in the 58th minute. Ifeanyi Kindness showed composure in front of goal, finishing neatly to double Nigeria’s advantage and give the hosts a firm grip on the tie.
Throughout the encounter, Nigeria controlled possession and pinned Malawi back for long stretches, combining attacking intent with defensive discipline. Malawi, on the other hand, struggled to respond to the relentless pressure and rarely threatened going forward.
The result puts the Falconets in a strong position ahead of the return leg, scheduled for May 9 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. With a two-goal cushion, Nigeria will be confident of finishing the job and sealing their place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
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