Senegal U-20 Women’s coach Mbayang Thiam praised Nigeria’s Falconets after his team was outclassed in the final stages of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier. The two teams met in a two-legged encounter, with Nigeria Falconets winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Despite showing effort, Senegal could not match the quality of Nigeria’s performance.
Senegal Admits Superiority of Falconets
In his post-match statement, Thiam acknowledged Nigeria’s dominance. “We were outclassed, and there’s no denying it. Nigeria were the better team and deserved to progress,” he said.
Thiam praised Nigeria’s technical play, noting that their possession and ability to create chances were superior. “They played at a high level, and we need to learn from this experience,” Thiam added.
Nigeria’s Dominance in the Qualifier
The Falconets were dominant in both legs. After a 2-1 win in Senegal, they sealed their place in the next stage with a 1-0 home victory in Lagos.
Opeyemi Akinyemi, Gift Monday, and Toluwani Ojo played key roles in securing the win. Ojo scored the only goal in the return leg, delivering the victory at Agege Stadium.
Falconets Continue Their World Cup Journey
With this win, Nigeria’s U-20 Women remain on track for their 9th consecutive FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup appearance. The Falconets will now face Malawi in the next qualification phase.
Looking Ahead for Senegal
For Senegal, the defeat marks a setback in their World Cup quest. Despite the loss, Coach Thiam remains hopeful. “We have much work ahead, but this is not the end,” Thiam said. “We will continue to develop our team and focus on the next steps.”
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