Nigeria’s Falconets traveled to Kigali to defeat Rwanda 1-0 in a 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup second round, first leg qualifying match on Sunday.

There was no breakthrough for either side in a gritty first 45 minutes of action in a match that drew low turnout at Kigali Pele Stadium.

Alaba Olabiyi scored from a goalmouth scramble off a corner kick in the 70th minute to give the visitors the victory.

Both teams will clash in the return at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday, September 27.

A draw will be enough for Nigeria to book a place in the next round of the qualifiers while Rwanda need to win by a two-goal margin to advance as battle for a ticket to 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland continues.

It will be the second time that Poland has hosted a FIFA tournament having hosted the Men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019.

It will also be the first time that the European country has hosted a FIFA women’s tournament.

Four teams will qualify from Africa while Europe will produce six teams, CONCACAF, ASIA, CONMEBOL will produce four teams each, and two teams will qualify from Oceania.