Falconets Set for Crucial Dakar Showdown Against Senegal in World Cup Qualifiers

Nigeria’s Falconets will depart for Dakar on Tuesday as they prepare for a decisive second-leg encounter against the Lionesses of Senegal in the third qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup, TalkTalk Nigeria reports.

The Nigerian side secured a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg, thanks to Kindness Ifeanyi’s 51st-minute header, giving Moses Aduku’s team a slight advantage heading into the return fixture scheduled for Saturday in Senegal’s capital.

The Falconets are expected to travel from Abeokuta to Lagos before connecting a flight to Dakar, where they will aim to protect their lead and secure progression to the next round. A draw will be enough for Nigeria to advance, while the aggregate winner will face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi in the final qualifying stage. The two nations played out a 1-1 draw in their first-leg encounter.

Opinion:
This second leg represents more than just a qualification match — it is a test of the Falconets’ composure and maturity on the continental stage. Holding a slim advantage can be both a blessing and a pressure point, especially away from home where crowd energy often shifts momentum.

Nigeria’s youth teams have built a reputation for resilience, and this fixture offers another opportunity to demonstrate tactical discipline and mental strength. If the Falconets can manage the game intelligently while staying clinical in attack, they could not only secure qualification but also send a strong message about the growing depth of women’s football in the country.