U-20 WWC: Ikpeme Charges Falconets To Keep Momentum

Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emmanuel Ikpeme, has urged the Falconets to maintain their winning momentum as they continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

Ikpeme gave the charge ahead of Nigeria’s final warm-up match against South Korea, following the team’s encouraging 1-0 victory over tournament hosts Poland.

The Falconets secured the victory in their first friendly on August 28, with Mary Mamudu scoring the only goal of the encounter in first-half stoppage time.

The Nigerian side held on to their advantage after the break despite pressure from the hosts, securing a morale-boosting result ahead of the tournament.

Ikpeme praised the players for their performance against Poland and urged them to produce another strong display against South Korea.

He said the victory had helped build confidence within the squad and encouraged the players to use the final friendly as an opportunity to strengthen their winning mentality.

The NFF official stressed that another victory would provide the team with additional confidence and help them approach the World Cup with greater belief.

Nigeria’s Falconets are two-time runners-up at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and will be hoping to go all the way in Poland this year.

Coach Moses Aduku’s team has been drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China and New Caledonia.

The Falconets will begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on September 7 before facing China on September 10 and New Caledonia on September 13.

The tournament will take place in Poland from September 5 to 27, with Nigeria aiming to make another deep run in the competition.

The team’s preparation has included an intensive training programme in Poland, where the coaching staff have worked on tactical organisation, physical conditioning, technical execution and team cohesion.

The final friendly against South Korea will provide another opportunity for Aduku to assess his players and fine-tune his plans before the opening match.

The Falconets will also be looking to maintain their confidence after overcoming the hosts in their first warm-up game.

Ikpeme encouraged the players to remain focused and determined, reminding them that the friendly victories would only be meaningful if they translated their confidence into strong performances during the World Cup.

Nigeria will enter the tournament with high expectations, given the country’s impressive record in the competition and the team’s history of reaching the final on two occasions.

The Falconets are therefore expected to approach the tournament with ambition as they seek to improve on their previous performances and finally claim their first U-20 Women’s World Cup title.