Moses Aduku, head coach of Nigeria's U20 women's national team, the Falconets, is optimistic about his team's chances against Senegal in the crucial second- leg qualifier for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, despite the absence of injured striker Janet Akekoromowei.
Recently injured during the first leg held in Abeokuta, Akekoromowei was sidelined following her exit in the first half of that match. Consequently, she did not make the trip with the squad to Dakar on Wednesday morning.
In a pre-match address, Aduku emphasized that the Falconets have learned significant lessons from their previous encounter and are well-prepared as they move forward.
"We will overcome because we have reviewed the match and taken a lot of lessons on board. I commend the girls for regrouping after a tough first half, adjusting tactics and showing character in the second half. We could have won by more goals because we created several opportunities in that second period," he stated.
The coach highlighted the importance of discipline and focus for the upcoming leg in Senegal.
"In Senegal, we must defend resolutely and attack with purpose. We will play with focus and determination," Aduku declared.
The match is set to commence at 5 PM local time in Senegal, which is 6 PM in Nigeria. The team that secures the aggregate victory will advance to the final qualifying stage for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Poland in September 2026.
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