Nigeria’s Flamingos have given the country another reason to celebrate after defeating Venezuela 1-0 to secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
It was a tense encounter, with Nigeria creating several opportunities but struggling to break down a stubborn Venezuelan defence. Just when it appeared that the match might head towards a penalty shootout, captain Azeezat Oduntan stepped forward to deliver the decisive moment.
Oduntan converted a late penalty in the 89th minute after Oluebube Umejiaku was brought down inside the box. The goal sent the Nigerian players and supporters into celebration and secured the team’s place among the final four.
The victory is particularly significant because it marks the Flamingos’ return to the semi-finals for the first time since their historic third-place finish at the 2022 tournament in India.
But the Nigerian girls are not finished yet. Their next opponents are Brazil, with a place in the final at stake.
Brazil will present a difficult challenge, but Nigeria have shown resilience throughout the knockout stages. After eliminating Mexico and Venezuela, the Flamingos will head into the semi-final believing they can go even further.
For Nigerian football fans, the dream of seeing the girls lift the trophy is still alive.
