Nigeria’s Flamingos secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after recording a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mexico, Trybal News reports.
Striker Oluebube Umejiaku and midfielder Mary Dunstan scored either side of half-time to seal an impressive win for the Nigerian youngsters, who will now face Venezuela in the last eight.
The encounter began as a closely contested affair, with both teams battling for control and showcasing the quality of their young talents.
However, Nigeria broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Umejiaku capitalised on her blistering pace to unleash a powerful finish and put the Flamingos ahead.
Mexico attempted to respond before the break, but Nigeria held firm to take a slender advantage into half-time.
The Flamingos returned with renewed intensity after the restart, dominating possession and pushing Mexico deep into their own half. Despite their territorial advantage, Nigeria initially struggled to turn their control into clear-cut opportunities in the final third.
Head coach Hakeem Busari subsequently made tactical changes, which helped shift the momentum further in Nigeria’s favour.
The decisive second goal arrived when left-back Rodiat Yusuf delivered a dangerous cross into the Mexican penalty area. The delivery caused confusion in the opposition defence, allowing Dunstan to react quickest to a loose ball and fire home to double Nigeria’s advantage.
Mexico managed to pull a goal back towards the end of regulation time, setting up a tense finish. However, the Flamingos held on to secure a 2-1 victory and eliminate their North American opponents from the competition.
The result sends Nigeria into the quarter-finals, where they will face Venezuela on Sunday, November 1, at the Women’s Football Complex in Salé, Rabat, Morocco.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, the Flamingos will look to build on their performance against Mexico as their quest for the world title continues.
