Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, have advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, following a needed 4–0 victory over Samoa on Saturday afternoon in Rabat.
After suffering back-to-back defeats to Canada (1–4) and France (0–1), the Flamingos knew that only a convincing win could revive their campaign and they delivered emphatically, putting four past the Samoans to secure passage into the knockout stage.
Flamingos’ Queen Joseph Leads the Charge
Forward Queen Joseph was the star of the day, scoring twice to take her tournament tally to three goals.
Captain Shakirat Moshood converted a penalty, while defender Azeezat Oduntan added a spectacular fourth from the flank as the Flamingos attacked with urgency.
Their first breakthrough came in the 13th minute, when Joseph latched onto a delightful through pass from Moshood and coolly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Grace Ae into the net.
Just three minutes later, Ae denied Chisom Nwachukwu with a fine save, but there was nothing she could do in the 27th minute when Moshood stepped up from the penalty spot to make it 2–0.
The spot-kick came after Holly Leapai handled the ball in the box while defending a corner.
Nigeria Unrelenting in Attack
Nigeria’s relentless attacking play continued to trouble the Samoan defense, and in the 36th minute, Nguemo Terlumun who was a constant menace on the wing, drove past her marker before setting up Joseph to slothome her second of the game.
The Flamingos could have added a fourth before halftime after a brilliant exchange between Joseph and Mariam Yahaya, but the latter’s shot was palmed away by the agile Ae.
They resumed the second half with similar intent, and just 32 seconds in, Nigeria were awarded another penalty after Terlumun was fouled in the area.
However, Moshood’s spot-kick this time was brilliantly saved by Ae to keep Samoa’s faint hopes alive.
Flamingos’ Oduntan Caps Off the Victory
In the 67th minute, the Flamingos finally got their deserved fourth goal through Azeezat Oduntan, whose cross from the wing evaded everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net.
At the other end, goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu pulled off two sharp saves to preserve Nigeria’s clean sheet and ensure their first win of the tournament.
The result confirmed Nigeria’s spot in the Round of 16, marking a strong recovery for the 2022 bronze medalists after their shaky start to the competition.
1 Win in Possible 3: How Nigeria Flamingos Escaped Elimination
Nigeria’s qualification hopes had been hanging by a thread following a 0–1 defeat to France on Wednesday night.
That match, played at the same Rabat venue, was a tense and cagey affair. Both sides defended stoutly in the first half, with the Flamingos creating more chances (four shots to France’s three) but unable to find a breakthrough.
Nigeria came closest in the 50th minute, when Queen Joseph’s corner found Chisom Nwachukwu, whose close-range strike was superbly saved by French goalkeeper Chevray Lauryne.
The Europeans, however, snatched victory late in the game as Maissa Fathallah fired a low drive past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Elizabeth Boniface in the 81st minute, handing the Flamingos their second consecutive defeat.
