Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, earned a narrow 1–0 victory over Rwanda in the opening leg of their 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier on Sunday in Kigali.
The intense clash at the Kigali-Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo produced few clear chances in the opening half, as both sides battled hard but failed to break the deadlock.
The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute when Alaba Olabiyi capitalized on a goalmouth scramble from a corner, giving debutant head coach Moses Aduku the perfect start to his tenure.
The reverse fixture takes place this Saturday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, where the Falconets will look to seal their passage to the next round with the support of their home crowd.
The team is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Monday, with preparations already shifting focus to the decisive second leg.
