by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Nigeria’s Falconets intensified preparations on Thursday ahead of their crucial third-round clash against Senegal’s Lionesses de la Téranga in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 qualifiers, Completesports.com reports.
Moses Aduku’s squad arrived in Abeokuta from Ibadan on Wednesday and held their second training session at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena. A total of 23 players participated in the two-hour session.
However, injuries continue to affect the team. Oluchi Ohaegbulem and Mistura Yusuf were limited to light training with the team’s physiotherapist and have been ruled out of Saturday’s first-leg match.
Meanwhile, Hannah Ayoade Ibrahim missed Thursday’s session due to illness but is expected to rejoin training on Friday.
The Falconets will host Senegal in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena on Saturday. The winner on aggregate will advance to the final qualifying round, where they will face either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi for a spot at the 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
Former members of Ghana’s U-20 team that qualified the country for the 2015/2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea have launched a campaign calling on the government to intervene over bonuses they say have remained unpaid for nearly a decade.
The players, who were part of the squad that successfully navigated the World Cup qualifiers, say they were promised GH¢12,000 each as winning bonuses for their efforts. However, they claim only a portion of the amount was paid, leaving an outstanding balance of GH¢8,000 owed to every player.
According to the former players, repeated attempts to seek clarification and payment from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the years have yielded no results, leaving them feeling neglected despite their service to the nation.
Several members of the squad say life after football has been difficult. Some are reportedly struggling with rent, school fees, and medical expenses, while others have exited the game entirely and are now relying on small-scale businesses to survive. They believe the unpaid bonuses could have made a significant difference in their post-football lives.
The players recall the sacrifices they made during the qualifiers — enduring intense training, long travels, and tough matches — all in the quest to secure Ghana’s place at the World Cup. They also remember the nationwide celebrations and pride that followed qualification, making the prolonged delay in payment even more painful.
Their campaign is now aimed at drawing the attention of government officials, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the wider public. They are urging state authorities to engage the GFA on their behalf to help resolve the issue once and for all.
Some of the former players revealed that they have written letters, made phone calls, and reached out to successive GFA administrations, but despite repeated assurances, no payments have been made. The prolonged silence, they say, has led to deep frustration.
Beyond their personal struggles, the former U-20 players also expressed concern for the future of Ghana football. They fear unresolved issues like this could discourage younger players and erode trust in the national team system.
They maintain that bonuses are not handouts but earned rewards for dedication, sacrifice, and representing the nation with pride — respect they believe is long overdue.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
The Senegalese Football Federation has officially unveiled a 24-player squad for the Lionesses of Teranga ahead of their crucial two-legged encounter against Nigeria’s Falconets in the third round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 qualifiers.
Head coach Mbayang Thiam has selected her squad for the decisive ties, with Senegal set to face Nigeria in the first leg in Abeokuta on February 7 before hosting the return fixture in Thiès on February 14.
Saturday’s clash represents the penultimate round of African qualification, with the aggregate winner advancing to the final round, where either Guinea-Bissau or Malawi await for a place at the World Cup.
Senegal Squad to Face Nigeria’s Falconets
Goalkeepers:
Yakhara Diagne (AS Bambey)
Fatou Nidaiye Camara (Lycée Ameth Fall)
Defenders:
Aissatou Fall
Adama Siga Diouf
Ndeye Haby Barro
Midfielders:
Mbene Diop
Mariama Faty
Mame Diarra Diallo
Forwards:
Adji Nidaiye (Bourges 18)
Marie Louise Sarr
Khadija Badio
Aissatou Sagna
Adji Nidaiye, a finalist for the 2025 CAF Young Player of the Year award, headlines the squad and is expected to play a key role in Senegal’s campaign.
Team Arrival and Preparations
The Lionesses of Teranga arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday night, landing in Lagos before travelling by road to Abeokuta. The team held its first training session on Wednesday evening at the African Church Grammar School as preparations intensified for the first leg.
Match Officials for First Leg
CAF has appointed the following officials for the Abeokuta encounter:
Referee: Diana Murungi (Uganda)
Assistant Referees: Immaculate Ongiera (Uganda), Elizabeth Nassolo (Uganda)
Fourth Official: Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
Match Commissioner: Christine Ziga (Ghana)
Referee Assessor: Berthe Minka (Gabon)
With qualification for Poland 2026 at stake, Senegal and Nigeria are set for a fiercely contested West African showdown.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
CAF Second Vice President and Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has come to the defence of Senegal following their controversial behaviour during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, insisting the much-criticised actions were driven by an overwhelming desire to win.
The dramatic final saw Senegal edge Morocco 1–0 after extra time but was overshadowed by chaos, including a 15-minute stoppage, a pitch invasion, and physical confrontations after a disputed penalty decision. Tensions escalated to the point where Senegal’s players walked off the pitch on the instructions of head coach Pape Thiaw.
CAF later handed down heavy sanctions, fining Senegal $615,000, banning coach Thiaw for five matches with an additional $100,000 fine, and imposing suspensions on several players. Despite these measures, Okraku offered a different interpretation of events.
“People have read a lot of negativity into the behaviour of Senegal,” Okraku said in an interview with GTV Sports Plus. “I tend to see it the other way. Yes, they went a bit overboard, but they showed that they had the desire, they showed that they wanted victory at all costs, and they showed that they wanted to compete, regardless of the odds they may have thought confronted them. And for me, that is football.”
His comments come amid Morocco’s decision to challenge CAF’s sanctions, describing them as excessive. However, CAF has already rejected Morocco’s appeal to overturn the match result, confirming Senegal as AFCON champions.
Okraku’s stance reflects a more nuanced view within African football leadership, framing the incident as an extreme display of competitive spirit rather than solely an act of misconduct.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Feb 5, 2026 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian defender Kingsley Schindler delivered a standout performance as Buriram United cruised to a dominant 6–0 victory over Cebu FC in their ASEAN Club Championship group clash at the Chang Arena in Thailand on Wednesday.
The Black Stars full-back was influential throughout the contest, playing the full 90 minutes while contributing a goal and two assists to underline his importance to the Thai champions.
Schindler set the tone early, providing the assist for Sandy Walsh’s opener in the 18th minute. Serbian midfielder Goran Čaušic doubled Buriram’s advantage just 13 minutes later before Schindler got on the scoresheet himself with a composed finish three minutes after the second goal.
The Ghanaian defender was not done yet, as he registered his second assist of the night by setting up Phitiwat to head home, sending Buriram United into the break with a commanding four-goal lead.
In the second half, substitute Nathakorn Rattanasuwan grabbed a brace to complete the rout and cap a flawless evening for the “Thunder Castles.”
Schindler’s compatriot, Emmanuel Toku, also featured prominently, playing 60 minutes as Buriram United maintained their perfect run. The Thai side now sit top of Group A with nine points from five matches.
Both Schindler and Toku will be hoping to retain their places in the starting lineup when Buriram United face Chengdu Rongchen in the AFC Champions League Elite.
