Nigeria’s Flamingos secured their first victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico on Tuesday, October 20, in Morocco.
The Nigerian girls responded strongly to their opening-day defeat against Poland, claiming three crucial points in their second Group B fixture to revive their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 25th minute, giving Nigeria an early advantage. The Flamingos maintained their lead through the remainder of the first half and continued to push for another goal after the restart.
Despite their efforts, the second goal proved elusive until the closing stages, when substitute Precious Oscar sealed the victory with a strike in stoppage time.
Oscar found the net in the 90th minute plus three, confirming Nigeria’s 2-0 triumph and giving the team a valuable boost ahead of their final group-stage encounter.
Flamingos Respond After Poland Defeat
The victory represents an important response from head coach Akeem Busari’s side, who began their campaign with a disappointing 2-1 loss to Poland.
Nigeria had conceded twice against the European side before Oluebube Umejiaku pulled a goal back in the 79th minute, but their late rally was insufficient to rescue a point.
Against Puerto Rico, however, the Flamingos showed greater composure and managed to protect their advantage before adding a second goal late in the match.
The result also provides a confidence boost as Nigeria continue their quest for another impressive finish at the global tournament.
North Korea Clash Next for Nigeria
The Flamingos will now turn their attention to their final Group B fixture against defending champions Korea DPR on Friday, October 23.
The match presents a significant challenge for Nigeria, with the Asian side having demonstrated their attacking strength during the group stage.
Nigeria will need another disciplined performance to secure a positive result and strengthen their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.
For the Flamingos, the victory over Puerto Rico is a welcome step forward. Their next assignment could prove decisive in determining how far Nigeria progresses at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
