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![\"Nigeria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/nigeria-jubo.jpg\"\/)
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\n Nigeria players celebrate their 2-0 series win against Ghana to warm up for the World Series.
\n \u00a9Ghana Rugby League Federation
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A three-week camp has prepared Nigerian players for a life-changing opportunity in the IRL Women\u2019s Rugby League World Series 2025 in Canada as they aim to become the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Nigeria will meet Ireland on Tuesday, October 21 at Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Ontario, with the winner to face the victor of the Canada-Fiji qualifier in a play-off five days later for the eight and final women\u2019s berth at IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026.<\/p>\n
For many of the Green Falcons squad, the flight to Toronto via Doha was the first time they had been on a plane and the winter conditions in Canada are expected to be a challenge for the team too.<\/p>\n
However, Nigeria have spent three weeks training and playing a two-match series against Ghana to ready themselves for the chance of a life-time as they perform on the world stage against NRLW and Women\u2019s Super League players.<\/p>\n
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\n Nigeria players celebrate their 2-0 series win against Ghana to warm up for the World Series.
\n \u00a9Ghana Rugby League Federation
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\u201cMost of these women haven\u2019t played outside of Africa but in terms of their athleticism, power and what they are playing for, it is a whole different world,\u201d Nigerian coach Bolu Fagborun said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not just playing for a World Series or qualifying for the World Cup, these women are playing for the chance to change their whole lives – the opportunity you can have in sports by being able to prove to people outside of Africa that these are potentially elite athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing better than playing against women who are playing in the Women\u2019s Super League in England, women who are playing NRLW or playing at the top tier in their own countries. It\u2019s a real opportunity to test where they are at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some players have taken months off work to give themselves the best possible chance of seizing the opportunity to play in the World Series.<\/p>\n
The athleticism and fitness of the players has exceeded the expectations of Fagborun and assistant coach Luke Shearman, who is involved in female pathways at Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n
The Green Falcons will be bolstered by the inclusion of three heritage players from Australia, two from England and two from Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe girls have had a three-week camp, Luke has got them in really good shape and they blew away Ghana (40-0) in the first game. It got a bit close in the second game (24-8) but we expected that,\u201d Fagborun said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been working on not just beating Ghana but the process and just gelling the team together, to be fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have got some home-based players and some international players, so we are trying to work out everyone\u2019s strengths and how to utilize them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the women have played in positions for years but now that we have a couple more players we can play them in the positions they are best suited to and target what they are really good at.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have got some fantastic athletes, and they have been doing double-day sessions all the way through so conditioning wise they are in really good nick.\u201d<\/p>\n
After months of preparation and planning, including a trip by Fagborun to Australia to meet with Shearman and recruit heritage players, potential sponsors and government support, all of their work is about the come to fruition.<\/p>\n
No African women\u2019s team has ever played on rugby\u2019s global stage. Now Rachel Iliya and Nigeria\u2019s Green Falcons are changing that, qualifying for the first Rugby League World Series. \ud83c\udfc9 pic.twitter.com\/Yo319FMoBz<\/a><\/p>\n