Nigeria 0-1 Colombia: Falconets Exit FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup After Late Quarter-Final Blow

Nigeria’s Falconets are out of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Colombia at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź.

The match was goalless until stoppage time. Nigeria had more of the play and more attempts. Colombia scored with almost the last action that mattered. Valerin Loboa’s goal in the 90+2nd minute sent Carlos Paniagua’s side into the semi-finals and ended Moses Aduku’s campaign in Poland.

Nigeria finished the tournament with two wins, one draw and two defeats. They scored 13 goals and conceded four.

How the quarter-final unfolded

Nigeria started the players who had carried them through the knockout round, with one change from the England win. Christiana Uzoma captained the side in goal. Onyedikachi Ekezie, Jumai Adebayo, Tumininu Adeshina and Rebecca Adegbemile formed the back four. Favour Nkwocha, Kafayat Mafisere and Tosin Rafiu started in midfield. Queen Joseph came in for Precious Oscar, with Ramotalahi Kareem and Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei ahead of them.

Colombia named Luisa Agudelo in goal, Isabel Weiner as captain, and Loboa as the listed centre-forward.

The first half belonged to Nigeria on territory and attempts. Janet Akekoromowei struck the crossbar in the 19th minute after Agudelo got a touch. Adeshina forced another save from distance in the 38th minute, the Colombia goalkeeper tipping the ball over. Nigeria went into the interval with seven attempts to two and four corners to none. The score was 0-0. Rebecca Adegbemile had been booked in the 16th minute.

Half-time: Nigeria Falconets 0-0 Colombia.

The second half stayed tight. Mariana Silva failed to punish Uzoma when the Nigeria captain went down in the 49th minute. Uzoma recovered. Silva shot again in the 71st minute. Uzoma saved.

Aduku turned to the bench. Winner Onajite David replaced Queen Joseph in the 61st minute. Precious Oscar replaced Favour Nkwocha in the 76th minute. Victory Lucky replaced Jumai Adebayo in the 83rd minute.

The game changed in the 77th minute. Kafayat Mafisere was sent off. VAR confirmed the red card a minute later. Nigeria played the closing stage with ten players.

Colombia made the extra player count at the end. Loboa scored in the 90+2nd minute.

Full-time: Nigeria Falconets 0-1 Colombia.

⚽ 90+2’ Valerin Loboa
♦️ 77’ Red card: Kafayat Mafisere

Nigeria finished with 14 attempts to Colombia’s 5.

The road to Łódź

Nigeria lost the opening Group F match 2-0 to Spain and drew 0-0 with China PR. However, second place was secured only by a massive 10-1 win over New Caledonia. That night changed the numbers. Ramotalahi Kareem scored three. Winner Onajite David scored three. Rebecca Adegbemile scored two. Akekoromowei and Rafiu also scored. Nigeria had 48 attempts and 22 shots on target in that match alone.

In the Round of 16 they beat England 3-0 in Bielsko-Biała. Rafiu scored in the 8th minute, Akekoromowei in the 47th and Mary Mamudu in the 73rd. Uzoma saved Rachel Maltby’s first-half penalty while Nigeria led 1-0. Janet was Player of the Match. That win took Nigeria into a ninth FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final: 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Their last semi-final was 2014. Their best finishes remain the finals of 2010 and 2014.

Colombia arrived the other way. They finished third in Group E, came through as a best third-placed team, and beat hosts Poland 1-0 in the Round of 16 through a late own goal. Until Sunday they had not scored from open play in their previous three matches. Loboa ended that wait in stoppage time. The sides had met once before at this tournament. Nigeria won 1-0 in the 2010 semi-final in Bielefeld. Sixteen years later Colombia took the quarter-final.

What the afternoon leaves behind

Nigeria had the first-half chances and the attempt count. They did not take them. The bar in the 19th minute and Agudelo’s save in the 38th were the clearest first-half warnings. After the red card, the contest became the kind of tight game Colombia had already survived against Poland.

Uzoma made important interventions again. The difference was the final pass and the final shot. Nigeria scored 13 times in four matches before this one and none in the fifth.

Aduku’s group of players still leave Poland with a last-eight finish, a 3-0 win over England and a 10-goal night that reset the campaign after the Spain defeat. The exit is late, narrow and unfinished in the way knockout football often is.

Colombia go on to face the winner of North Korea in the semi-finals on Wednesday, 23 September, at Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź.

Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

Spain 2-0 Nigeria
Nigeria 0-0 China PR
Nigeria 10-1 New Caledonia
Nigeria 3-0 England
Nigeria 0-1 Colombia

Record: 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses
Goals scored: 13
Goals conceded: 4
Stage reached: quarter-finals

Match details

Match: Nigeria vs Colombia
Competition: 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
Round: Quarter-final (Match 48)
Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026
Venue: Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łódź, Łódź, Poland
Result: Nigeria 0-1 Colombia
Scorer: 90+2’ Valerin Loboa
Red card: 77’ Kafayat Mafisere (Nigeria)

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