Nigeria: Rwanda edge Zimbabwe to set up date with Falconets in race for U20 World Cup in Poland

Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, will begin their quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland with a tricky tie against East African side Rwanda in the second round of African qualifiers, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Falconets, 11-time qualifiers and two-time finalists at the global tournament, were handed a bye into the second round thanks to their impressive pedigree.

They now face a determined Rwandan side that edged past Zimbabwe in the first round. After securing a 2-1 win in Harare, Rwanda held the Zimbabweans to a goalless draw in the return leg at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday to seal progress.

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Nigeria: Rwanda edge Zimbabwe to set up date with Falconets in race for U20 World Cup in Poland

It will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Nigeria and Rwanda at this level, with the first leg scheduled for September 18 in Kigali. The reverse fixture will take place in Nigeria on September 27.

Four teams will eventually emerge from the African qualification series to represent the continent at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Poland. The road to Poland will span four knockout rounds, with teams from all over Africa battling for the coveted spots.

Nigeria enters the qualifiers as one of the favourites. The Falconets are unbeaten in African qualifying history, boasting 44 wins and just three draws across previous campaigns. They remain the only African nation to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002, finishing as runners-up in 2010 and 2014 — both times losing to Germany in the final.

Meanwhile, the rest of the second-round ties are beginning to take shape. South Sudan are favourites to join the next stage after a 5-0 first-leg win over Djibouti. Other matchups include Ethiopia vs Kenya, Tanzania vs Angola, Uganda vs Namibia, and Burundi vs Zambia, all set for September.

Rwanda, who have never qualified for a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, will be hoping to make history. But standing in their way is a Nigerian side with depth, experience, and a reputation for excellence in women’s youth football.