- Poland denied visas to 15 players from Nigeria’s Falconets squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
- The Nigeria Football Federation and coach Moses Aduku are scrambling to secure entry clearance for the affected players
- Nigeria open their World Cup campaign against Spain on September 7, with the tournament kicking off on September 5 in Poland
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup have been thrown into chaos after Poland refused to grant visas to 15 players in the Falconets’ final squad, leaving the team in a desperate situation weeks before the tournament begins.
A team official described the crisis as a “big, hot mess,” questioning how the side could possibly compete at a World Cup with only 15 players cleared for travel.
Source: Getty Images
A post by veteran Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji on X, confirmed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and head coach Moses Aduku are now working urgently to resolve the visa issue and get the remaining players on the flight to Europe.
Falconets’ World Cup build-up in disarray
The Falconets were due to open their training camp in south-west Poland on Monday, August 24, having spent several weeks in Abuja undergoing intensive preparations.
Despite that groundwork, the visa setback has put the entire campaign in jeopardy before it has even started.
As part of their pre-tournament schedule, Aduku’s side are set to face Poland and South Korea in friendly matches, designed to give the coach the chance to sharpen his tactical setup ahead of the competition.
Those matches now take on added significance given the disruption to the squad’s travel plans.
The NFF had not released any official statement on the visa situation at the time of this report.
Nigeria earned their place at the tournament after defeating Malawi 3-2 on aggregate in their qualifying tie in May 2026.
The Falconets won the first leg 2-0 in Ikenne, Ogun State, before losing the return fixture 2-1 in Lilongwe, going through on aggregate to seal their spot in Poland.
Nigeria’s group stage opponents confirmed
As seen on FIFA’s official website, the U-20 Women’s World Cup kicks off on September 5, with Nigeria set to play their opening group game against Spain on September 7.
China and New Caledonia are the other nations in the Falconets’ first-round group, making it a demanding start that will demand a full and settled squad.
Spain enter the tournament among the favourites, and the prospect of facing them with a reduced or unsettled group of players has only heightened concerns within the Nigerian camp.
The situation puts significant pressure on football authorities to cut through the administrative obstacles quickly.
Every day lost to travel delays is a day less for Aduku to prepare his players on Polish soil, fine-tune combinations, and adjust to playing conditions ahead of what promises to be a demanding group stage.
Nigeria take big step towards World Cup
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, moved closer to another FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup appearance after edging Senegal 1-0 in the first leg of their third-round qualifier in Abeokuta.
Both teams entered the contest in a confident mood after dominant second-round performances, with Nigeria thrashing Rwanda 5-0 on aggregate and Senegal dismantling Algeria 6-0.
Source: Legit.ng