Nigerian football fans have praised the Flamingos following their qualification for the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Venezuela on Sunday.
Azeezat Oduntan converted a late penalty in the 89th minute to send Nigeria into the last four, where they will face Brazil on Wednesday for a place in the final.
Fans said the team had lived up to expectations despite losing their opening group-stage match to Poland.
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Charles Adegbenle, a grassroots women’s football coach, expressed satisfaction with the Flamingos’ performances, saying the players had demonstrated maturity and composure under pressure.
“They are a good team, and I am impressed with their performances so far. However, they still need to work harder as they prepare to face Brazil in the semi-finals.
“They have shown that they are not intimidated by big names or strong opponents. I sincerely wish them the best of luck in their semi-final match,” he said.
Clement Nnaji, a football fan, also commended the team’s determination and quality but urged the players to remain cautious against Brazil.
“I am very confident in the team’s performance so far. They have really proved themselves, and I can only wish them the best of luck against Brazil,” he said.
Wilson Tochukwu, a grassroots coach, said the Flamingos had what it takes to reach the final but needed to strengthen their defence against tougher opposition.
“They are a great team, and reaching the semi-finals means they deserve respect. They have really made us proud.
“Not much was expected of them after they lost their opening group match, but look at what they have achieved since then. They are truly an incredible team.
“We wish them the best and hope they go further to reach the final,” he said.
Nigeria must overcome Brazil, who defeated China 2-1 in their quarter-final, to reach the final for the first time.
The Flamingos’ best previous performance at the tournament was a third-place finish in 2022 in India. They reached the semi-finals that year after defeating the United States on penalties before claiming the bronze medal.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
