Nigeria's Flamingos have qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after defeating Venezuela 1-0 in a tense quarter-final encounter in Morocco. The decisive goal was scored by Captain Azeezat Oduntan from the penalty spot in the 89th minute. This victory marks Nigeria's return to the semi-finals for the first time since their historic third-place finish at the 2022 edition in India.
The breakthrough came after Oluebube Umejiaku was fouled inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award Nigeria a spot kick. Oduntan stepped forward and converted to give the Flamingos a dramatic late lead. The contest was closely fought, with Nigeria creating several opportunities but struggling to beat Venezuela's goalkeeper and captain, Valeria Rebanales.
Tosin Rafiu came close in the 19th minute, but Rebanales reacted well to tip her effort over the crossbar. The Venezuelan goalkeeper was again called into action in the 35th minute, denying Mary Dunstan. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi also threatened before half-time, but neither side could find the breakthrough as the teams went into the interval goalless.
Venezuela had opportunities of their own, with Ariana Ojeda and Migleydys Bolsegui testing Nigeria's defence. The second half continued in a similarly competitive fashion, with the Flamingos pushing for a goal against a Venezuelan side that had already demonstrated its resilience by eliminating Germany in the round of 16.
Nigeria eventually found the breakthrough through Oduntan's late penalty, ending Venezuela's challenge and securing a place among the tournament's final four. The result extends the Flamingos' impressive run in Morocco. After losing their opening group match 2-1 to Poland, Akeem Busari's side recovered with victories over Puerto Rico and defending champions DPR Korea to progress from Group B.
The Flamingos subsequently defeated Mexico 2-1 in the round of 16 before overcoming Venezuela to reach the semi-finals. Nigeria's victory also keeps alive their ambition of winning the competition for the first time. Meanwhile, the other African team in the quarter-finals, Ghana, were eliminated on Sunday, with Japan edging them 1-0 to advance.
The Flamingos will now turn their attention to the semi-finals as they seek to take another step towards the title. With their impressive run in the tournament, Nigeria's Flamingos have shown their determination and resilience in the face of tough competition. Their semi-final appearance is a testament to their skill and teamwork.
Key points
- Nigeria's Flamingos qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Venezuela.
- Captain Azeezat Oduntan scores the decisive goal from a penalty in the 89th minute.
- Nigeria's victory marks their return to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2022 edition in India.
