Nigeria’s Falconets are approaching the final step in their bid to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with head coach Moses Aduku stressing the importance of full concentration.

The West African side will take on Malawi women’s national under-20 team in a two-legged playoff next month. The first leg is set for Saturday, 2 May in Nigeria, while the return fixture will be played a week later in Lilongwe.

Preparations have been calm and structured, with the team camping in Abuja for three weeks. This period has allowed the technical crew to evaluate players, improve fitness, and fine-tune tactics ahead of the decisive ties.

Aduku is confident his players are mentally and physically prepared for the challenge.

“We have a full squad available and the players are focused. At this stage, our attention is on tactical work and team organisation,” he said.

Known for their attacking quality and discipline, the Falconets are working to sharpen both aspects before the crucial opening match. While Nigeria will look to make the most of home advantage in the first leg, Aduku understands that qualification will be decided over two matches, making consistency vital.

Road to the final round

Nigeria have been dominant throughout the qualifiers. They advanced from the opening stage after their opponents withdrew, before defeating Rwanda women’s national under-20 team 5-0 on aggregate in the second round. That run included a narrow away win in Kigali and a convincing victory at home in Ibadan.

Their toughest test came against Senegal women’s national under-20 team. Nigeria secured a 1-0 first-leg win in Abeokuta before sealing qualification with a 2-1 away victory, completing a 3-1 aggregate success.

Across these matches, the Falconets have shown a strong balance between solid defending and clinical finishing, underlining their status as one of Africa’s top teams at this level.

Malawi, meanwhile, have battled their way to this stage. They edged past the Central African Republic women’s national under-20 team on a 1-1 aggregate score in the first round, before beating South Sudan women’s national under-20 team 3-1 on aggregate.

Their standout performance came in the third round against Guinea-Bissau women’s national under-20 team. After a 1-1 away draw, Malawi produced a dominant 5-1 home win in Lilongwe to progress 6-2 on aggregate.

That result highlights Malawi’s attacking strength, especially on home soil, and sets up an interesting contest against Nigeria’s organised and consistent approach.

With both sides just two matches away from qualification, the playoff promises to be closely contested. Nigeria aim to secure their place on the world stage once again, while Malawi are chasing a historic first appearance at the tournament.

Former India cricketer Murali Kartik has called for someone from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to step in, intervene, and assist Nicholas Pooran amid his poor form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The explosive Caribbean player has been far from his best as the franchise seeks a resolution to avoid a potential third loss in a row.

Nicholas Pooran, who retired from international cricket last year, came into IPL 2026 after an equally poor SA20 2026 campaign while leading the MI Cape Town. With other overseas batters on the bench like Josh Inglis and Matthew Breetzke, and even Indian names like Himmat Singh and Arshin Kulkrani being an option, LSG have to take a massive call.

Murali Kartik branded Pooran’s form as ‘worrying and concerning’ ahead of the Rishabh Pant-led side’s upcoming clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).

“You are relying on your Big 4. Aiden Markram has looked really good, you need him and Mitchell Marsh to strike at the top of the order. Nicholas Pooran, his form is worrying and concerning, because what he can do to the opposition, we all know. But he has been a pale patch of his best self this season. Completely muddled by the looks of it,” Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

“He is not able to get pace away, and whatever technical deficiencies he has, somebody needs to tell him, because it is not helping,” he added.

LSG are set to face the unbeaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, on Sunday, April 19. This will mark the team’s third afternoon encounter in IPL 2026 after their contests against the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Nicholas Pooran has scored 42 runs in five matches for LSG in IPL 2026

The left-handed wicket-keeper batter kick-started his IPL 2026 campaign with a run-a-ball eight against the Delhi Capitals (DC), where he was outfoxed by Lungi Ngidi’s trademark slower ball. Since then, he has recorded double figures in only two out of the four matches. Overall, he has scored 42 runs in five matches at an average of 8.40 and a strike rate of 76.36.

In his most recent outing against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he chopped one back onto the stumps against Josh Hazlewood to depart after scoring one runs off seven deliveries.