Nigeria, Sept. 17 -- The stage is set for what promises to be one of the most intriguing Round of 16 fixtures at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, with Nigeria's Falconets facing England on Thursday.

Nigeria booked their place in the knockout phase in emphatic fashion, mauling New Caledonia 10-1 in their final Group F fixture to finish second in the group. England, meanwhile, advanced from Group B after a campaign that included a 1-1 draw with Canada, a 5-1 victory over Tanzania and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brazil.

The contrast in the two teams' routes to the knockout stage only adds to the intrigue, as the Falconets arrive with an attack that exploded into life against New Caledonia, while England have already demonstrated ...