Ogun FA Rallies Fans for Falconets’ World Cup Qualifier Against Senegal in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Football Association (Ogun FA) has called on football fans and residents across the state to troop out in large numbers to support Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, as they take on Senegal in a crucial 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match.

The highly anticipated third-round, first-leg encounter is scheduled for Saturday, 7 February, at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, with kick-off set for 4:00 pm.

The match forms part of Nigeria’s quest to secure a place at the Poland 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and both Nigeria and Senegal will be aiming to gain an early advantage in the two-legged tie.

Speaking through a statement issued by the Ogun FA Communications Department, the Chairman of the Ogun State Football Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, urged fans to turn the MKO Abiola Sports Arena into a fortress for the Falconets. Majekodunmi, who is also an Executive Board Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), assured that all necessary preparations have been put in place to ensure a smooth and successful matchday experience.

“The Nigeria Football Federation has done everything humanly possible to ensure the Falconets are well prepared and ready for this important qualifier,” Majekodunmi stated. “However, football is not played by the players alone. The support of our people from the stands will go a long way in motivating the girls to victory.”

The relocation of the fixture to Abeokuta has been widely welcomed, as it offers football fans in Ogun State a rare opportunity to witness high-level international women’s football. The MKO Abiola Sports Arena has, in recent times, proven to be a suitable venue for major national and international fixtures, providing a quality playing surface and a conducive atmosphere for competitive football.

Nigeria’s Falconets head into the tie with confidence, having recorded an emphatic 5–0 aggregate victory over Rwanda in the second round of the qualifiers. The team, a two-time FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup silver medallist, is aiming to maintain its strong continental pedigree and take another step toward returning to the global stage.

Victory over Senegal across two legs would propel Nigeria into the final qualifying round, where they would face the winner of the tie between Guinea Bissau and Malawi, with a place at the Poland 2026 tournament on the line.

The Ogun FA believes that massive fan turnout and vocal support could play a decisive role in inspiring the Falconets to secure a positive result in the first leg. The association has therefore encouraged families, youths, football stakeholders, and supporters of women’s football to come out early and rally behind the national team.

As Abeokuta prepares to host this crucial encounter, the message from the Ogun FA is clear: the Falconets need the 12th player in the stands. With pride, qualification hopes, and national honour at stake, all roads now lead to the MKO Abiola Sports Arena on Saturday.