U20 World Cup qualifier: Why we lost to Nigeria – Senegal coach Thiam

Senegal’s U-20 women’s head coach, Mbayang Thiam, has openly admitted that her side were second best to Nigeria's  Falconets in their World Cup qualifying showdown, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Falconets secured a 3-1 aggregate victory over the Young Lionesses, after claiming a 2-1 win in Senegal on Saturday. 

Speaking after the two-legged tie, Thiam said the Nigerian team showed more experience and composure, which ultimately made the difference. She explained that her players knew from the start they were facing a tough opponent.

“It’s true, it wasn’t easy. We even expected that,” Thiam said at the post-match press conference.

“The Nigerian team isn’t a weak team. They’re a team used to competitions, both at the youth and senior levels.”

The Falconets have qualified for every edition of the U20 Women's World Cup since it was established in 2002.

Thiam suggested that Nigeria’s long history in youth football gave them an edge, especially in key moments across both matches. While her players fought hard, the Senegal coach admitted the Falconets handled pressure better and were more clinical when chances came.

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Nigeria's Falconets vs Senegal: Struggles, lessons for the future

One of the biggest problems for Senegal was defending dead-ball situations. Over the two legs, they conceded three goals from corners and free kicks, a weakness that proved costly.

“We conceded three goals from set pieces,” Thiam explained. “You could say there’s a problem with those. We worked on that a lot after returning from Nigeria.

“After the first goal, the girls were a bit down. That’s sometimes understandable, but we’ll correct it and keep working.”

She added that while her players matched Nigeria physically, maturity and calmness in crucial moments separated both teams.

“Physically, the girls really gave it their all. But the Nigerian team is more mature,” she said.

Despite the heartbreak of elimination, Thiam believes the experience will help her young squad grow stronger in the future.

“The girls cried because they know it was within their grasp.

“It was possible. But the Nigerian team is perhaps more prepared than we are. That’s sport. You have to take steps to gain experience and maturity.

“We’ll turn these regrets into something else so the girls don’t cry at the end of a match.”

Nigeria will next face Malawi with the winner of the two-legged tie guaranteed a a place at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.