By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
Nigeria’s Flamingos have booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after producing an impressive 3-1 victory over defending champions North Korea in their final Group B match in Morocco on Friday.
The Nigerian youngsters delivered a commanding performance against one of the tournament’s strongest sides, overcoming the North Koreans’ attacking reputation to secure qualification for the knockout stage.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute, giving Nigeria an early advantage before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead in the 38th minute.
Kanyinsola Yusuf extended the Flamingos’ advantage in the 56th minute with a well-taken free kick, putting Nigeria firmly in control of the contest.
North Korea reduced the deficit in the 82nd minute after Yu Jong-hyang converted a penalty awarded following a video review. However, Nigeria maintained their composure in the closing stages to secure a memorable victory.
The result was particularly significant given North Korea’s form before the encounter. The defending champions had won their opening two group matches, defeating Puerto Rico 6-0 and Poland 6-1 to establish themselves as one of the leading contenders for the title.
Nigeria, meanwhile, entered Friday’s match under pressure after losing 2-1 to Poland in their opening fixture. The Flamingos responded with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico on October 20, restoring their qualification hopes ahead of the decisive meeting with North Korea.
Adegbuyi scored in both Nigeria’s victories over Puerto Rico and North Korea, while Umejiaku also found the net against Poland before adding another goal against the defending champions.
The win over North Korea secured Nigeria’s progression from Group B and provided a major boost to the team’s ambitions at the tournament.
The Flamingos, coached by Akeem Busari, are seeking to build on Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2022 edition of the competition. Their performance against North Korea demonstrated their ability to compete against established teams on the international stage.
North Korea had entered the tournament as defending champions and among the favourites to retain the trophy, having established a formidable record in recent editions. Nigeria’s victory therefore represents an important achievement for the young team as the competition moves into the knockout rounds.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is being held in Morocco, with teams competing for the title in the tournament’s latest edition.
Following their victory, the Flamingos will turn their attention to the Round of 16, where they will aim to maintain their momentum and continue Nigeria’s pursuit of another strong finish at the global competition.