- Nigeria U-17 Women’s World Cup team crushed Samoa 4-0 to progress to the Round of 16 after two opening defeats.
- Queen Joseph scored a brace, while Azeezat Oduntan and Shakirat Moshood added one goal each in the decisive Group D clash.
- The Flamingos of Nigeria ended the group stage with a +3 goal difference, finishing third behind Canada and France.
- With confidence restored, Nigeria’s U-17 team will now face Korea DPR in their Round of 16 encounter on Tuesday.
Nigeria’s U-17 girls, popularly known as the Flamingos, proved their class once again with a commanding 4-0 victory over Samoa on Saturday to book their place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
After suffering back-to-back losses to Canada and France, the Nigerian team needed a big win to stay in the tournament, and they delivered in style.
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The opening goal came just 13 minutes into the game when Queen Joseph found the back of the net with a calm finish, setting the tone for what would become a dominant outing for the Flamingos. Team captain Shakirat Moshood doubled the lead in the 27th minute after converting a penalty awarded through VAR review. Her precise strike left the Samoan goalkeeper with no chance.
By the 34th minute, Queen Joseph struck again, completing her brace with a superb finish following an intelligent assist from Tabitha Terlumu, putting Nigeria 3-0 ahead before the break.
In the second half, Moshood had the opportunity to grab her second goal from the spot, but Samoan keeper Grace Ae denied her with an impressive save. That miss, however, did not stop the Nigerian girls from pressing forward.
The fourth goal arrived in the 68th minute when Azeezat Oduntan fired a thunderous strike into the top corner, sealing the win and ensuring Nigeria’s advancement as one of the best third-placed teams.
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Despite missing a few late chances to extend their lead, the Flamingos comfortably saw out the match with a +3 goal difference, enough to finish third in Group D. Canada topped the group after beating France 2-1 in the other fixture.
Coach Bankole Olowookere praised his players for their resilience, saying the team’s spirit and determination made the difference. With momentum now on their side, the Nigerian girls will face Korea DPR in their knockout clash on Tuesday, hoping to continue their impressive comeback in the tournament.
