2026 FIFA U-20 WWC: Impressive Falconets Hold China To 0-0 Draw

Nigeria’s Falconets held a strong Chinese side to a goalless draw, in their second Group F match, at the 2026 FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup on Thursday in Poland, completesports.com reports.

The Falconets went into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Spain in their first fixture, while China opened their campaign with a dominant 5-0 win against New Caledonia.

Head coach Moses Aduku made changes which saw the inclusion of Benfica new signing Janet Akekoromowei after she missed the opener with Spain.

China started brightly and in the opening two minutes, Li Chenyu’s long-range effort from the left hit the crossbar and Huang Jiaxin later fired a free-kick over from the edge of the area on 24 minutes.

The Nigerian team created threats of their own with Akekoromowei going close in the 32nd minute with a free-kick which forced a strong save from Chinese goalkeeper Liu Chen.

Later in the first half, a defensive error allowed a Falconets counter; and Akekoromowei’s low shot from outside the box on 37 minutes slid wide.

In the 53rd minute Chen Ruilin forced a spill from the Nigerian keeper with an angled shot that went wide.

Also Read: U-20 WWC: Falconets Will Bounce Back Against China, Captain Uzoma Assures

The Falconets were awarded a penalty on 63 minutes for a handball by Huang Jiaxin but after a review by VAR it was overturned.

In the 69th minute China Yu Xingyue saw her shot go over the bar, and Yu Jiaqi’s header from a cross was saved by the Nigerian goalkeeper on 73 minutes.

The result keeps Nigeria’s knockout hopes alive but leaves them needing a strong performance (and favourable results elsewhere) in their final group match against New Caledonia on Sunday, September 13.

Earlier on Thursday, Spain sealed qualification to the round of 16 after hammering New Caledonia 11-0.

The top two in the group advance automatically, along with the four best third-placed teams overall.