RismadarVoice Sports
September 19, 2026
Falconets head coach Moses Aduku has warned his players to put their emphatic victory over England behind them as Nigeria prepares to face Colombia for a place in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria booked its quarter-final ticket with a 3-0 victory over England in Bielsko-Biała on Thursday and will face Colombia in Łódź on Sunday.
Aduku said celebrations following the England victory were deliberately cut short as attention shifted immediately to the Colombian challenge.
“It will be unwise for us to keep thinking of the win over England. That match is gone,” the coach said.
ADUKU EXPECTS TOUGH COLOMBIA TEST
Colombia reached the quarter-finals after defeating tournament hosts Poland 1-0 in the Round of 16, a result Aduku said demonstrated the quality of Nigeria’s next opponents.
“The Colombians sent out the host nation and will not be a walk-in-the-park for us,” he said.
Nigeria will be attempting to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2014, when the Falconets finished as runners-up.
The Falconets have reached the final twice but are yet to win the competition.
Aduku said his players understand the significance of the opportunity but must remain disciplined and compete for every ball if they are to advance.
FALCONETS CARRY MOMENTUM INTO QUARTER-FINAL
Tosin Rafiu, Janet Akekoromowei and Mary Mamudu scored in Nigeria’s victory over England, while captain and goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma played a crucial role in keeping the opposition out.
Uzoma made several important saves, including stopping a penalty, as Nigeria survived periods of pressure before completing the convincing victory.
The Falconets also have previous World Cup history against Colombia. Nigeria defeated the South Americans 1-0 in the semi-finals of the 2010 tournament, with Ebere Orji scoring the decisive goal as the country reached its first final at the competition.
The Nigeria Football Federation has meanwhile settled outstanding daily allowances owed to the players and officials ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final.
NFF Acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme urged the team to maintain its concentration as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
Victory over Colombia would send Nigeria into the semi-finals for the first time in 12 years and move the Falconets another step closer to a maiden U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
