The Nigeria U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have made two changes to their squad for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after captain Joy Igbokwe and midfielder Faridat Abdulwahab failed to obtain visas for the tournament.
The duo were unable to join the rest of the squad when the team departed for Poland on Monday following unresolved visa complications.
Their places have now been taken by Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi.
The replacements mean Nigeria arrived in Poland with 20 players, as the Nigeria Football Federation moved to adjust the squad ahead of the competition.
There is also uncertainty over the participation of striker Janet Akekoromowei, who is reportedly facing a release issue with her Portuguese club, Benfica. The former Bayelsa Queens forward joined the squad in Poland but could still miss the tournament if the matter is not resolved.
Akekoromowei sustained a serious injury during the qualifiers in February, with Benfica reportedly playing a role in supporting her rehabilitation.
Despite the setbacks, the Falconets have settled into camp and commenced preparations on Wednesday at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena.
Coach Moses Aduku and his technical team put the players through sessions focused on tactical organisation, technical execution, fitness and team coordination as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the World Cup.
The Falconets are scheduled to play two preparatory friendlies before the tournament proper, taking on hosts Poland on August 28 and South Korea on September 1.
The match against Poland will be played at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg at 12 noon local time, while the encounter with South Korea will hold at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium at 4pm local time.
The two matches are expected to help the Nigerian side adapt to the conditions in Poland, assess their tactical approach and build match sharpness ahead of the competition.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia.
They will open their campaign against Spain on September 7, before facing China PR on September 10 and New Caledonia three days later.
The Falconets, who finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2014, will be hoping to finally win the U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Nigeria, Brazil and the United States remain the only countries to have participated in every edition of the tournament, with Germany missing out on this year’s competition after failing to qualify.
