Nigeria's Flamingos beat North Korea 3-1 in their
final Group B match at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, Morocco, to
book a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
The Flamingos went into the game needing at least a
point to qualify. They lost their opening match to Poland before beating Puerto
Rico to revive their campaign. North Korea had scored 12 goals in their first
two matches.
Coach Akeem Busari's side took the lead in the 15th
minute through 16-year-old Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who scored after a brilliant run
into the North Korean box. Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the advantage in the 38th
minute, firing past goalkeeper Kim Son-gyong to add to the woes of the two-time
champions.
North Korea pushed hard for a way back into the game
after the break, but the Flamingos, the 2022 bronze medallists, held firm.
Kanyinsola Yusuf then made it 3-0 with a beautifully taken free kick. With
eight minutes left on the clock, North Korea pulled one back through a Yu
Jong-hyang penalty. Yusuf was named Player of the Match for her outstanding
performance.
Despite the defeat, North Korea finished top of the
group on goals scored. Nigeria came second, while Poland finished third on
inferior goal difference, having ended on the same points as the Flamingos.
Nigeria will now face the second-placed team in Group
F, which comprises Spain, Chile, Australia and Mexico, on October 29, 2026.
Nigeria's Azeezat Oduntan expressed delight at the
win, describing it as exciting. "I'm super proud of my teammates because
they all came out and chose to play. We have to keep going and keep fighting. I
feel excited, but we are not there yet because we just qualified for the next
round," she said.
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