Falconets Beat Malawi to Qualify for 2026 Women’s U-20 World Cup

Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team, the Falconets, have booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after a hard-fought 3-2 aggregate win over Malawi’s Young Scorchers.

The Falconets sealed qualification on Saturday despite losing 2-1 in the second leg in Lilongwe. Their 2-0 win in the first leg in Ikenne a week earlier gave them the edge they needed to advance.

Malawi came out strong and took the lead early in the first half. A defensive slip by Nigeria allowed the hosts to head home and shift the momentum. Nigeria nearly hit back soon after when Favour Nkwocha met a cross from Kindness Ifeanyi with a header that bounced off the crossbar.

The pressure mounted in the 55th minute when Malawi scored again to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate. With the game on a knife edge, coach Moses Aduku turned to his bench for a spark.

That change worked almost immediately. In the 62nd minute, substitute Precious Oscar pressed a Malawian defender into a mistake and kept her composure to score. The goal put Nigeria back ahead 3-2 on aggregate and shifted the momentum once more.

From there, the Falconets held firm at the back and saw out the match to secure their spot in Poland. The result means Nigeria will feature at every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since it began.

The tournament is set to run in Poland from September 5 to 26, 2026.

After the game, the team thanked Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Ibrahim Miringa, and embassy staff for their support throughout their stay in the country.

Unveiling '3 Cold Dishes': A Gripping Tale of Survival, Revenge, and Justice

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN H uman trafficking has been a significant issue affecting millions worldwide, causing long term physical and emotional harm to victims. In this interview, Nigerian award-winning filmmaker Asurf Oluseyi Samson reveals how he started as a filmmaker and unveils what prompted him to shed light on the harrowing reality of human trafficking through the movie " 3 Cold Dishes ," which explores themes of trauma , revenge , and survival , showcasing women's strength and resilience in the face of human trafficking. Asurf Oluseyi, founder of Asurf Films Ltd ., directed the movie " A Day with Death ," which received 10 international nominations and won Best Short Film at AMVCA 2016 . He is also the director of the movie " Hakkunde ," which represented Nigeria at the 50th anniversary edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2019. EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN brings excerpts. 1. How did yo...

SEPTEMBER TOP SCOOPS IN NIGERIA

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN ✓ Afriland & Central Plaza Infernos: A Call to Action for Enhanced Fire Safety F ire outbreaks remain a persistent crisis in Nigeria, claiming lives and destroying properties. The two recent incidents in Lagos show how severe it can be. On September 16, 2025 , around 1:20 pm, a fire broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island . The inferno was triggered by an electrical fault in the basement of inverter batteries in the building, which resulted in the tragic loss of ten lives due to smoke spreading via air-conditioning ducts. The deaths were caused by smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning . According to national dailies, at least 25 people were injured. The high-rise building harbored different firms, including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and United Capital Plc . Just hours later, between 7:00 and 8:00 pm, anothe...

The IMOIFF Creatives & Film Festival Sets to Hold 2026 Edition with "Local 2 Global" Theme

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN T he Imo International Film Festival (IMIFF) is set to make a significant impact on the global film scene with its 2026 edition, themed "Local 2 Global." Scheduled to take place from November 27 to 29, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, the festival is sponsored by Julob Entertainment, with professional roots connected to the British Council’s Film Lab Africa and local creative partners like Clifford and Stanford Igbo. In a brief chat, Izuchukwu Okafor , Founder of IMOIFF, stated that the festival aims to bridge the gap between local filmmakers and international distribution platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV. The festival will feature a diverse range of award categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film (Narrative/International), Best Documentary, Best Student Film, Best Animation, and Best Experimental Film, among others. Technical awards for Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress will also be high-profile h...

16 Nigerian Directors Behind Afrobeats’ Global Visual Identity

A s Afrobeats has gone global and earned worldwide recognition, the directors behind its most watched videos have become key cultural figures. These Nigerian filmmakers turn hit songs into cinematic stories that reach millions, blending local culture with bold creative ideas. Their work has helped define how the world sees Afrobeats. The directors below are presented in no order of importance or ranking. Each has made a distinct mark on the genre’s visual growth. Director Pink P raise Onyeagwalam is one of the few prominent female directors in Afrobeats. She broke through with Chike and Simi’s “Running To You,” a video praised for its emotional storytelling. Through Pinkline Films and Pinkline Academy, she directs high profile work and trains emerging filmmakers. Kemzart A diukwu Daniel Nkemakolam, known professionally as Kemzart, is a Nigerian director recognized for concept-driven visuals. He gained prominence with Shallipopi’s “Cast” and has since directed high-impact videos f...

The Ogechi Effect: How BoyPee Became Afrobeat’s Newest Star

I n this exclusive interview Nigerian singer, Sopuru Precious Odunze , popularly known by the stage name, ‘ Boypee ’ talked about what triggered his collaboration with singers, Brown Joel and Hyce on his hit track “ Ogechi ”. His influences and the way he handles the pressure coming from the music industry. The original “ Ogech i ” track gained massive popularity initially, but the remix featuring popular Nigerian singer, Davido catapulted the song to a new height. The remix was released before the megastar’s wedding, it took over social media, with many users incorporating the track into their online content, further solidifying “Ogechi” as one of Nigeria’s biggest hit song in 2024. EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA brings excerpts. Tell us a bit about yourself and your family background. I hail from the vibrant state of Imo , but I was born and raised in Anambra . Growing up in a business-oriented family instilled in me a strong work ethic and a competitive spirit. It’s this foundati...

April Top Scoops In Nigeria

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN ✓ The CBEX SCAM: Red flags and Lessons B arely a few days after the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Emomotimi Agama, revealed in an interview on Arise TV that the new Investment and Securities Act (ISA 2025), recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, empowers the commission to arrest and prosecute promoters of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, with at least 10 years' imprisonment, the month of April brought pains and tears dripping from the eyes to the cheeks of people who invested in CBEX, organized under ST Technologies International Limited, which was said to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and was even listed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) Special Control Unit against money laundering. This well-coordinated scam became well-known after its crash, as it was revealed by the victims that they were lured into investing in the scheme with high returns after 30...

Translate

Search This Blog