Nigeria U-20 women’s national team star Ramotallahi Kareem has expressed satisfaction with the Falconets’ impressive group-stage campaign at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

The Falconets secured four points from their three Group-stage matches after losing to Spain in their opening game, drawing with China and rounding off their campaign with a commanding 10-1 victory over New Caledonia. 

Kareem was the standout performer in the emphatic victory over New Caledonia, scoring a hat-trick to earn the Player of the Match award and help Nigeria seal their place in the knockout phase.

The forward said scoring goals and contributing to the team’s success remains her primary responsibility, while expressing delight at her individual achievement.

“My job is to score goals and help the team, and I’m over the moon to have done that today,” Kareem told FIFA after the match. 

Her treble provided a perfect response after Nigeria’s mixed results in their opening two matches and ensured the Falconets entered the knockout stage with renewed confidence.

Kareem was particularly pleased to have recorded her first hat-trick of the tournament and immediately shifted her attention towards the next challenge.

“I’m delighted with my hat-trick. Now we’re hoping to make a real impact after getting out of the group stage,” she added. 

The Falconets will face England in the Round of 16 on Thursday, with the team hoping to maintain the momentum generated by their emphatic final group-stage victory. 

The victory over New Caledonia was Nigeria’s biggest result of the tournament so far and highlighted the attacking quality available to head coach Moses Aduku.

Beyond Kareem’s individual brilliance, the result also demonstrated the Falconets’ ability to respond strongly after a difficult start to the competition.

Nigeria are now the only African representatives remaining at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after the continent’s other representatives exited during the group phase. 

For Kareem, however, the individual accolades will take a back seat as the Falconets prepare for the knockout stage, where there is no room for mistakes.

The Nigerian side will need another disciplined and determined performance against England if they are to progress to the quarter-finals and keep their hopes of winning the country’s first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title alive.

With confidence growing after the New Caledonia rout, Kareem and her teammates will be hoping their impressive finish to the group stage marks the beginning of an even deeper run in Poland.