Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have booked a place in the Round of 16 at the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after defeating Samoa 4-0 in their final group match on Saturday.
The victory came as a welcome response to the team’s earlier struggles in the tournament, having lost 1-4 to Canada in their opener and 0-1 to France in their second group fixture. Needing a win by a wide margin to progress, the Nigerian side approached the game with purpose and intensity.
Queen Joseph was the standout performer, scoring twice to bring her tally in the competition to three goals. Team captain Shakirat Moshood converted a penalty, while defender Azeezat Oduntan added a fourth with a well-placed strike from the flank.
The Flamingos made their intentions clear early on, taking the lead in the 13th minute when Joseph connected with a precise pass from Moshood to lift the ball beyond Samoan goalkeeper Grace Ae.
Ae pulled off a fine save three minutes later to deny Chisom Nwachukwu, but Moshood doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 27th minute, calmly slotting home from the spot after Samoa’s Holly Leapai was penalised for handling the ball inside the box.
Nigeria’s attacking momentum continued, and in the 36th minute, Nguemo Terlumun created another chance with a skilful run down the right before crossing for Joseph, who finished confidently for her second goal of the day.
A neat exchange between Joseph and Mariam Yahaya moments before halftime nearly produced a fourth, but Ae was quick to block Yahaya’s low strike.
The Flamingos were awarded another penalty early in the second half after Terlumun was brought down in the area, but Moshood’s second attempt from the spot was saved by Ae.
Oduntan eventually sealed the result in the 67th minute, scoring directly from a cross after sustained Nigerian pressure. At the other end, goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu produced two crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The win ensures the Flamingos, bronze medallists at the 2022 edition in India, advance from their group and continue their campaign for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Guardian reports that Nigeria’s U-17 female football team, the Flamingos, were drawn in a challenging group alongside France, Canada, and Samoa for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The draw, conducted at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, sets up intriguing contests for the Nigerian girls.
