Newly appointed Falconets head coach Moses Aduku has called up 35 players to the Nigeria U20 women’s national team camp as preparations begin for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda.
The second-round tie will see Nigeria travel to Kigali for the first leg on Sunday, September 21, with the return leg scheduled for Saturday, September 27 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
The invited squad includes four goalkeepers, 11 defenders, nine midfielders, and 11 forwards, with the players expected to report to camp in Abuja on Sunday, August 10, while training sessions will begin the following day.
Aduku has retained several key players from the Falconets squad that reached the Round of 16 at the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, including team captain and defender Oluchi Ohaegbulem, midfielder Joy Igbokwe, and forwards Mary Lucky Mkpa and Goodness Osigwe.
In the last World Cup outing, Nigeria recorded a 1–0 win over Korea Republic, a 4–0 win against Venezuela, and a 1–3 loss to Germany in the group stage, before bowing out to Japan in a narrow 2–1 defeat in the Round of 16.
The upcoming qualifiers mark the start of the Falconets’ journey to next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Poland.
Full List of Invited Players:
Goalkeepers:
- GodsTime Elisha (Ibom Angels)
- Fatima Okolo (Rivers Angels)
- Sylvia Echefu (Bayelsa Queens)
- Stella Emperor (Adamawa Queens)
Defenders:
- Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels)
- Folashade Adegbemile (Edo Queens)
- Sandra Nwibe (Rivers Angels)
- Marylen Edem (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Vivian Ekezie (Abia Angels)
- Esther Adesoji (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers)
- Motunrayo Yusuf (FC Robo Queens)
- Ramotallahi Kareem (Rivers Angels)
- Chiamaka Ezekuwugo (Bayelsa Queens)
Midfielders:
- Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels)
- Kafaya Mafisera (Edo Queens)
- Joy Igbokwe (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Yetunde Omotosho (Remo Stars Ladies)
- Esther Inyang (Edo Queens)
- Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens)
- Favour Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens)
- Faridat Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Adanna Nwachukwu (Naija Ratels)
Forwards:
- Mary Mamudu (Edo Queens)
- Mary Lucky Mkpa (Bayelsa Queens)
- Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens)
- Delight Isaac (Bayelsa Queens)
- Esther Moses (Edo Queens)
- Grace Saliu (Naija Ratels)
- Dorothy Eshiet (Abia Angels)
- Alaba Olabiyi (Bayelsa Queens)
- Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons)
- Precious Oscar (Bayelsa Queens)
- Daniella Fagbenro (Remo Stars Ladies)
As the Falconets aim for yet another World Cup appearance, Aduku’s first task will be to build cohesion, sharpen tactics, and secure a strong result away in Rwanda before sealing qualification on home soil.
