U-17 Women World Cup: Flamingos fall 2-1 to Poland in opening match
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineNigeria’s Flamingos began their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening Group B match at the Women’s Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday.
Poland took the lead in the 33rd minute when Wiktoria Skrzypczak converted a penalty to put her side ahead at half-time.
The Europeans extended their advantage in the 66th minute through Natalia Skrok, leaving Nigeria with a two-goal deficit to overcome.
Oluebube Umejiaku reduced the deficit in the 79th minute, but the Flamingos could not find another goal to avoid defeat.
The result leaves Nigeria and Puerto Rico without a point at the bottom of Group B, while Poland and defending champions Korea DPR have three points each.
Korea DPR, four-time winners of the competition, began their campaign with a 6-0 victory over debutants Puerto Rico. Yu Jong-Hyang and Kim Won-Sim each scored twice in the emphatic win.
The Flamingos arrived in Morocco after winning the WAFU-B U-17 Girls’ Championship in Ivory Coast last month.
They won all five matches, scored 17 goals and conceded just once before defeating Togo 4-0 in the final.
Nigeria secured their World Cup place by beating Benin in the final round of African qualifying.
Head coach Akeem Busari named a 21-player squad for the tournament, with the team arriving in Morocco on October 7 to prepare for the competition.
Captain Harmony Chidi led Nigeria’s attack after scoring five goals during the qualifying campaign and adding three more at the WAFU-B championship.
Poland qualified for the tournament by defeating England 2-0 in the UEFA play-off, with midfielder Zofia Burzan scoring both goals. Burzan also netted four times at the European U-17 Championship, while Poland reached the quarter-finals on their debut at the 2024 edition.
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Nigeria are making their ninth appearance at the competition, where their best finish remains third place in 2022. The Flamingos secured that position by defeating Germany on penalties in the third-place play-off in India.
Busari’s side will face Puerto Rico on Tuesday, October 20, in a crucial second group match before taking on Korea DPR on Friday, October 23.
The tournament features 24 nations and runs until November 7, with the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed sides advancing to the Round of 16.
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