Nigeria’s Falconets will battle Colombia on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
The quarter-final clash is scheduled for the Stadion Miejski ŁKS in Łódź, with the Falconets seeking to reach the last four of the competition for the first time since 2014.
Nigeria booked their quarter-final place with an emphatic 3–0 victory over England in the round of 16. Tosin Rafiu opened the scoring before Janet Akekoromowei doubled the lead shortly after the restart, while Mary Mamudu completed the victory in the second half.
Goalkeeper and captain Christiana Uzoma also played a crucial role in the win, making several important saves and stopping a first-half penalty to preserve Nigeria’s advantage.
Colombia, meanwhile, secured their place in the quarter-finals by defeating tournament hosts Poland 1–0. The South Americans will provide another demanding test for Moses Aduku’s side as the competition enters its decisive stage.
Aduku has warned his players not to become complacent after their impressive victory over England, insisting that the team must focus fully on the Colombian challenge.
The Falconets have a history against Colombia at this stage of the competition. Nigeria defeated the South Americans 1–0 in the semi-finals of the 2010 edition, with Ebere Orji scoring early in the match as Nigeria advanced to their first final in a FIFA women’s football competition.
The current Nigerian side will now attempt to repeat that success and move closer to a maiden U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
Nigeria have reached the final of the competition twice but are yet to lift the trophy. A victory over Colombia would take the Falconets into the semi-finals, where they would face the winner of the quarter-final between North Korea and Canada.
The match represents another significant test for Aduku’s young squad, particularly after their commanding performance against England.
With a place in the final four at stake, the Falconets will be expected to combine the attacking confidence they showed in the previous round with the defensive discipline that helped them keep England scoreless.
The quarter-final is scheduled for 3:00pm local time in Poland, which is 2:00pm Nigerian time.
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