Nigeria’s Flamingos have advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Mexico 2-1 in their Round of 16 encounter on Thursday in Morocco.
The Flamingos scored in both halves to establish a two-goal lead before Mexico pulled one back in stoppage time at Pitch 2 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
Head coach Akeem Busari retained the starting XI that defeated defending champions DPR Korea 3-1 in their final Group B fixture, with Oluebube Umejiaku starting and captain Harmony Chidi named on the bench.
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Mexico made a bright start, creating early chances, but struggled to break down Nigeria’s resolute defence. The Flamingos gradually settled into the contest and began to create opportunities of their own.
Nigeria broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time through Umejiaku, who fired home from inside the box to register her third goal of the tournament.
The Nigerian team continued to apply pressure after the restart, pushing Mexico deep into their own half as they sought to extend their advantage.
Nigeria eventually secured a 2-1 victory, sealing their place in the last eight and continuing their campaign for the title.
The Flamingos will face Venezuela in the quarter-finals after South America eliminated Germany. A place in the semi-finals will be at stake when the two sides meet.
Ghana, DPR Korea, China and Brazil have also secured quarter-final places, with two spots still available.
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.
