Igbokwe Laments Missing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Over Visa Setback

Posted : 01 September 2026

Falconets captain Joy Igbokwe has expressed her disappointment after missing the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland because of visa complications. Igbokwe and defender Faridat Abdulwahab were unable to secure entry visas and were subsequently removed from Nigeria’s final squad.

Igbokwe said the setback was particularly painful after the work she put into Nigeria’s successful qualifying campaign. She had been part of the team that secured qualification with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Malawi in May.

The midfielder shared her frustration on social media, saying she had given everything for the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the global tournament. She also expressed sadness at being separated from teammates with whom she had worked throughout the qualification process.

The visa issue forced the Nigeria Football Federation to make late changes to the squad. Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi were brought in as replacements for Igbokwe and Abdulwahab respectively.

The Falconets arrived in Poland on August 25 and began their final preparations in Trzebnica. The team has also scheduled warm-up matches against Poland and South Korea before the tournament begins.

The absence of Igbokwe is a major blow because she had been selected as captain of the original 21-player squad. The NFF's initial squad announcement had listed her among the players travelling to Poland, before the visa situation forced the changes.

Former goalkeeper Sunny Edoreh criticised the handling of the situation. He argued that the NFF should have explored additional options, including working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and FIFA, before replacing the players.

Nigeria will enter the tournament with significant experience behind it. The Falconets finished runners-up at the 2010 and 2014 editions and are one of only three nations, alongside Brazil and the United States, to have appeared at every edition of the competition since its launch in 2002.

The team is drawn in Group F alongside Spain, China PR and New Caledonia. Nigeria will begin its campaign against Spain on September 7 before facing China on September 10 and New Caledonia on September 13.

With the senior Super Falcons already out of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, attention will be firmly focused on Moses Aduku's Falconets. The young Nigerian side will now attempt to overcome the disruption and challenge for the country's first U-20 Women's World Cup title.

Igbokwe Laments Missing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Over Visa Setback

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