JUST IN: Falconets arrive home today after FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup ouster

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief

Nigeria’s Falconets will return to the country today after exiting the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup following a heartbreaking 1–0 quarter-final defeat to Colombia on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Prompt News can confirm.

According to a source that knows the itinerary of the team, the Nigerian contingent which departed Poland early Monday morning arrived Istanbul, Turkey in the afternoon and will later catch a Turkish Airlines flight to Abuja this evening.

This is even as the only foreign-based player in the team Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei who plays as a striker for Portuguese club S.L. Benfica and the Nigeria women’s under-20 team, has returned to Portugal from Poland.

A 90th-minute stoppage-time goal (90+2′) scored by forward Valerin LoboaKey was all Colombia needed to edge out Nigeria after central defender Kafayat Mafisere was sent off with a red card in the 77th minute, leaving Nigeria with 10 players before the late winner.

To reach the quarter-finals stage Nigeria defeated England 3–0 in the Round of 16 just as the Falconets were Africa’s final remaining representative in the tournament.