Nigeria’s Falconets will face England in a highly anticipated Round of 16 encounter at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Thursday, September 17, with both teams battling for a place in the quarter-finals and the presence of British-born Nigerian footballer Princess Ademiluyi in the colours of the Young Lionesses.
Princess Ademiluyi, born 14 July 2006 in Gravesend, Kent, England who currently plays for Gotham FC in the USA and is on loan at Ipswich Town. She previously represented England at U19 level before joining the U20 World Cup squad.
The crucial knockout fixture is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Nigerian time at the Bielsko-Biała Stadium in Poland, with the Falconets heading into the contest on the back of a remarkable attacking display in their final group-stage match.
Nigeria endured a difficult start to the tournament, losing 2-0 to Spain in their opening fixture before playing out a goalless draw against China. With qualification at stake, the Falconets responded emphatically against New Caledonia, producing a commanding 10-1 victory to finish second in their group.
Winners Onajite David and Ramotalahi Kareem were the stars of the emphatic victory, with both players completing hat-tricks. Rebecca Adegbemile also made a major contribution with a brace, while Janet Akekoromowei completed Nigeria’s scoring.
The performance provided a timely boost to the Falconets’ confidence as they prepare for their first knockout challenge of the tournament.
England, meanwhile, also experienced an inconsistent group campaign. The Young Lionesses began with a 1-1 draw against Canada before producing an impressive 5-1 victory over Tanzania. They concluded the group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Brazil.
One of the major talking points surrounding Thursday’s encounter is Princess Ademiluyi, the Nigerian-British forward representing England.
Ademiluyi has already demonstrated her attacking qualities, scoring four goals against New Caledonia during England’s pre-tournament preparations before opening the scoring in England’s 5-1 victory over Tanzania.
Her presence adds an intriguing subplot to the encounter, particularly given her Nigerian background and familiarity with the West African football environment.
The Falconets, however, will be looking to focus on their collective strengths rather than the individual threat posed by England. After scoring ten goals in their final group match, Nigeria will enter the knockout stage with considerable attacking confidence.
The two nations also have previous history at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, with Nigeria having recorded one victory and one draw against England in their earlier meetings.
Thursday’s encounter therefore promises to be a closely watched contest, with the winner earning a place in the quarter-finals.
Should Nigeria progress, the Falconets will face either Poland or Colombia in the last eight.
For the Nigerian youngsters, the objective will be clear: convert the confidence generated by their spectacular group-stage finish into another strong performance when the pressure of knockout football arrives in Bielsko-Biała.
Match Details:
England U-20 vs Nigeria U-20
Thursday, September 17, 2026
2:00 p.m. WAT
Bielsko-Biała Stadium, Poland
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – Round of 16
