24/08/2026
FALCONETS DEPART FOR POLAND 🇳🇬
Nigeria’s Falconets are set to depart Abuja tonight, Monday, August 24, for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, following the completion of their final preparations
However, as earlier reported by AdemolaSports, captain Joy Igbokwe will not travel with the team tonight.
Pictures from the team’s departure show that Igbokwe is not among the players leaving Nigeria tonight. Reports suggest that the Nasarawa Amazons midfielder’s visa was not approved, putting her participation at the tournament in serious doubt.
Igbokwe was named captain of Nigeria’s 21-player squad and was expected to lead the Falconets in Poland.
🇳🇬 FALCONETS SQUAD FOR POLAND 2026
Christiana Uzoma, Jane Ijirigho, Ramotalahi Kareem, Queen Joseph, Favour Nkwocha, Rebecca Adegbemile, Joy Igbokwe, Faridat Abdulwahab, Precious Oscar, Tumininu Adeshina, Bright Etim, Onyedikachi Ekezie, Victory Lucky, Mary Mamudu, Hannah Ibrahm, Tosin Rafiu, Janet Akekoromowei, Amber Ogbolu, Winner David, Chisom Nwachukwu and Jumai Adebayo.
(Source: NFF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT)
The Falconets qualified after defeating Rwanda 5–0 on aggregate, Senegal 3–1 on aggregate, and Malawi 3–2 on aggregate.
They will face:
🇪🇸 Spain — September 7
🇨🇳 China PR — September 10
🇳🇨 New Caledonia — September 13
Nigeria is the only African country to have appeared at every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and will be aiming to win the title after finishing runners-up in 2010 and 2014.
The big question now: Can the visa issue be resolved in time for Joy Igbokwe to join the Falconets in Poland? 🇳🇬
