Nigeria’s Flamingos have secured a place in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Venezuela in their quarter-final encounter.
A dramatic late penalty from Azeezat Oduntan proved decisive as the Nigerian youngsters overcame their South American opponents to keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.
In a closely contested encounter, both teams battled for control, with Nigeria showing determination and resilience against a Venezuelan side equally desperate to secure a place in the last four.
With the contest heading towards a tense conclusion, the Flamingos eventually found their breakthrough in the 89th minute when the referee awarded Nigeria a penalty.
Oduntan stepped forward and confidently converted the spot-kick, sending the Nigerian players and supporters into celebration.
The late goal proved enough to separate both sides, as Nigeria held on to secure a crucial victory and confirm their qualification for the semi-finals.
The result represents another significant milestone for the Flamingos, who continue to demonstrate Nigeria’s growing competitiveness in women’s youth football.
Attention will now shift to a potentially challenging semi-final showdown against Brazil on November 4, as Nigeria seek to overcome another major obstacle on their journey towards the tournament final.
Brazil will provide a stern test for the Nigerian side, but the Flamingos will approach the encounter with renewed confidence following their dramatic quarter-final success.
For Nigeria, the mission remains clear: maintain their momentum, deliver another disciplined performance and move one step closer to becoming world champions.
The Flamingos are now just two victories away from lifting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy.
