Still smarting from their 1-4 loss to Canada in their opening Group D game at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup holding in Morocco, Nigeria’s Flamingoes must beat another strong contender, France, if they desire to go past the first round of the championship.

The Nigerian girls, who were thoroughly decimated by Canada on Sunday, are expected to have corrected the lapses that worked against them when they face the French side that beat Samoa 4-2 in their opening game.

This fixture is more than just a group match, as there is history and something at stake for the Flamingos. The last time Nigeria met France at this tournament was 13 years ago, in Azerbaijan, where both sides played out a tense 0–0 draw in regulation time before France edged Nigeria 5–3 on penalties to advance from the quarterfinals.

That memory lingers, and for many, this feels like unfinished business. Nigeria enter tomorrow’s match bottom of the table with zero points and a minus three goal difference, meaning defeat could mathematically end their World Cup journey. At minimum, a draw is essential, but a win would flip the entire narrative heading into the final group match against Samoa.

France play with speed, fluidity and dominant structure. Their 4–2 win over Samoa was ruthless. Nigeria showed flashes of brilliance against Canada, scoring once, but defensive lapses haunted them badly.

Coach Bankole Olowookere’s team must correct their transitions, stay compact, and rediscover their mental steel, as this is no longer about tactics alone, but also about character.

At the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 1), 8.00 p.m. in Rabat, the Flamingos won’t just be playing France, they’ll be playing for belief, redemption, and survival.