Nigeria Falconets Thrash England 3-0 in FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Round of 16

Nigeria’s Falconets delivered a dominant performance to defeat England 3-0 in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on September 17, 2026.

The match took place at Stadion Miejski in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, sending the Young Lionesses home and advancing the African side to the quarter-finals.

Tosin Rafiu opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a composed finish after a strong run into the England box.

England earned a penalty later in the first half, but Falconets captain and goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma produced a crucial save to deny Rachel Maltby and preserve the lead.

Nigeria went into the break 1-0 ahead.

Just two or three minutes into the second half, Janet Akekoromowei (also referred to as Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei) doubled the advantage.

The Benfica forward capitalised on a poor clearance from an England corner, controlling the loose ball and striking it home.

Substitute Mary Mamudu sealed the victory in the 73rd minute, converting a cutback or assist to make it 3-0.

The result marked a commanding display by Moses Aduku’s side.

Nigeria finished second in Group F after a mixed group stage that included a 2-0 loss to Spain, a 0-0 draw with China, and a 10-1 win over New Caledonia.

England were eliminated after reaching the knockout stage.

FIFA congratulated the Falconets on the victory, and the 3-0 scoreline represented a significant margin against England in World Cup competition.

Nigeria will next face Colombia in the quarter-finals on Sunday in Lódz?.

The Falconets, two-time runners-up in the competition’s history, continue their strong campaign with clinical finishing and solid defensive organisation, including Uzoma’s key interventions.

England coach Lydia Bedford expressed disappointment, noting Nigeria’s direct and physical style proved difficult to handle.

This emphatic win keeps African hopes alive in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and highlights the Falconets’ progress under Aduku.

Fans and officials celebrated the clinical performance that eliminated a competitive England side and set up a challenging last-eight clash.