WWCQ U20 2026: Not satisfied with my team’s overall performance – Falconets coach Aduku on win against Malawi

Despite winning the first leg of the final qualifying round for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 against Malawi, Falconets coach Moses Aduku said he is not satisfied with the overall display of his players.

The Falconets beat a determined Malawi team 2-0 in Ikenne, following an own goal in the first minute of the second half and a goal from Kindness Ifeanyi.

It was a game in which the Falconets missed numerous scoring opportunities that would have decided the tie.

Reflecting on the game during the post-match press conference, Aduku believes the players can do more.

“We thank God for the victory, in the first half we were not very good in terms of coordination and in the second half we lost the opportunity, but thank God we reached the second half and scored the goals.

“But I’m still not satisfied with the overall performance because I think we can do more, although I can’t say I’m disappointed with my attackers because they scored two goals. In football you can have 100 chances and not convert any of them.”

On what he thinks the Malawians’ approach would be in the first leg, Aduku said: “I know when we get to Malawi they will come out to play, they tried to play defensively especially in the first half. They will come out to play and we will have chances and I give you my word that we will score the first goal (in Malawi).

“We will be tactical in our approach, we are two goals up and in Malawi we will not just go on the defensive but we will take the game to them and see if we can score a goal and I know my girls can do that.

“It will be easier in Malawi because if they sit calm and we are able to create opportunities like this, now they will come out and play, we will definitely have opportunities to score and I think we have a good defense and our goalkeeper is not that bad, so we are on the right track.”

Also, on her assessment of her team in the qualifiers: “What I have seen in my team is that we grow with each game. I remember it was 1-0 in Rwanda and when we got to Ibadan it was 4-0. When we played against Senegal it was 1-0 in Nigeria and 2-1 in Senegal, so I think the Malawians will not be an exception. The girls will do better in Malawi, this is not a Nigerian scenario where you think you have to win at home.”