The Falconets have qualified for the knockout stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after demolishing New Caledonia 10–1 in their final Group F encounter in Poland.
Nigeria needed a win to remain in contention and responded with one of their most commanding displays at the tournament, scoring four times in the opening 27 minutes before adding six goals in the second half.
The victory secured second place in Group F on four points, with Nigeria finishing ahead of China on goal difference. Spain topped the group with nine points.
The Nigerian attack was led by a pair of hat-trick heroes, with Ramotalahi Kareem and Winner Onajite David both finding the net three times. Rebecca Adegbemile scored twice, while the remaining goals completed a remarkable team performance.
Nigeria made their intentions clear from the start and went into the interval with a 4–0 advantage. Kareem scored twice before Akekoromowei struck in the 23rd minute, while Kareem completed her hat-trick in the 27th minute.
The Falconets showed no sign of easing off after the restart, adding six more goals to turn the contest into a one-sided affair and secure the result required to advance.
Their qualification is particularly significant given the difficult start to the competition. Nigeria lost 2–0 to Spain in their opening match and drew 0–0 with China, leaving the team with little room for error before the New Caledonia encounter.
The win keeps alive Nigeria’s pursuit of a first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title. The Falconets have reached the final twice—in 2010 and 2014—but finished runners-up on both occasions.
Nigeria will now enter the Round of 16 as Africa’s last remaining representative at the Poland 2026 tournament, with the team’s emphatic final group-stage victory providing significant momentum for the knockout phase.