Awawu Bashiru scores twice and Queen Joseph once as Akeem Busari’s side become the first African team to reach the U-17 Women’s World Cup final, setting up a showdown with Japan on Saturday, November 7.
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Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in Morocco on Wednesday night to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time. Awawu Bashiru scored twice and Queen Joseph added the other goal as the Flamingos made history in the semi final.
The win makes Nigeria the first African team to reach the final of the competition. Their previous best finish was third place in India in 2022, when they lost to Colombia on penalties in the semi-final and then beat Germany on penalties to claim the bronze medal.
The first half was goalless. The breakthrough came in the 56th minute, when Joseph slotted home from close range after Oluwakemi Adegbuyi’s initial effort was blocked.
Bashiru doubled the lead in the 71st minute with a lob from close to the corner flag that sailed over the Brazilian goalkeeper. Nine minutes later she added her second, finishing off a brilliant interchange of passes to make it 3-0.
Brazil pulled one back in the 89th minute through Greise Kelly, but it was only a consolation strike. The Flamingos held on to book their place in the final.
Bashiru was named Player of the Match for her performance. One of the goalscorers said afterwards that playing in the final is a big privilege, and fans who follow Nigeria’s young stars can check the Bet9ja promotion for big football weekends before Saturday.
A Remarkable Turnaround
This run looked unlikely at the start of the tournament. Nigeria lost their opening Group B game 2-1 to Poland on October 17, but they have since won five straight matches.
The Flamingos beat Puerto Rico 2-0 and Korea DPR 3-1 in the group, finishing second on six points. They then edged Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 and beat Venezuela 1-0 in the quarter-final through captain Azeezat Oduntan’s 89th-minute penalty.
Brazil had warned beforehand that Nigeria would be tough to beat, and coach Rilany Silva called them a very physical team. The Flamingos proved her right and punished Brazil with three clinical finishes. Readers who like to learn how offers work can look at Bet9ja’s YOHAIG signup promo while they follow the final build-up.
Goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho and captain Oduntan again anchored the team, while Adegbuyi, Umejiaku and Mary Dunstan started in attack. Precious Oscar replaced Adegbuyi in the 84th minute, and Harmony Chidi came on for Oluebube Umejiaku in the 87th.
Japan Await In The Final
Nigeria will now face Japan on Saturday, November 7, in the final. Japan reached it by beating defending champions North Korea in the other semi-final, although reports differ on how the game was decided, with some pointing to a penalty shootout and others to a late own goal.
The tournament, which started on October 17, ends on November 7. Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai has already managed 14 matches at the U-17 Women’s World Cup and is approaching a coaching record, so his side will arrive with plenty of experience.
For Busari’s players, the task is clear. They have already beaten defending champions Korea DPR and an unbeaten Brazil, and they have shown they can recover from setbacks. Anyone curious about how to get started can read the Bet9ja booking code guide ahead of Saturday’s final.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria’s previous best at the U-17 Women’s World Cup was third place in 2022, when they lost to Colombia on penalties in the semi-final and beat Germany on penalties for bronze.
- Reports say Nigeria had not beaten Brazil in their two earlier meetings at this tournament before Wednesday’s win.
- This was the first U-17 Women’s World Cup in which no European country reached the semi finals.
- Greise Kelly’s 89th-minute goal was her fourth of the tournament.
- Japan coach Sadayoshi Shirai has managed 14 matches at the U-17 Women’s World Cup and is approaching a coaching record.
