The Nigerian Flamingos will face a tough test against Italy in the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Nigerian girls sealed their place in the knockout stage after a convincing 4–0 victory over Samoa in their final group game, qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams alongside the Netherlands, Zambia, and Morocco.
After suffering defeats to Canada and France in their opening two matches, the Flamingos bounced back in style to keep their tournament hopes alive.
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Their next opponents, Italy, were flawless in the group phase—winning all three matches against Brazil, hosts Morocco, and Costa Rica—scoring 10 goals and conceding none. The Europeans will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten run as the knockout rounds begin.
This meeting would be the first time that both sides are playing against each other at this level of the competition.
The Flamingos know what is ahead of them and what they have suffered in big tests. They were undone by ruining chances created against Canada, losing by four goals to one. While it was expected that they would learn their lessons versus France, they were not at their best and lost narrowly by a goal to nil. Of course, a win against Samoa is enough as a confidence booster but they need to show resilience and grit.
Solomon Olowokoore, the Nigerian Flamingos head coach, has confirmed that the team is ready for Italy’s challenge.
“Italy are a strong side, but we have prepared well. We respect every opponent, but we will fight for every ball and every chance. The girls are confident and hungry. This team wants to make history for Nigeria — and we believe we can,” Olowokoore said.
Competition: FIFA U17 WWC Round of 16
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m. (Nigerian time)
Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy (Pitch 2), Salé, Morocco
Where to Watch: FIFA TV
Other Round of 16 fixtures include:
Tuesday
Brazil U17 vs China PR U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 3, Sale)
United States U17 vs Netherlands U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)
South Korea U17 vs Morocco U17 – 8:00 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 2, Sale)
Wednesday
Mexico U17 vs Paraguay U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 3, Sale)
Spain U17 vs France U17 – 4:30 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)
Canada U17 vs Zambia U17 – 8:00 PM (Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sale)
Japan U17 vs Colombia U17 – 8:00 PM (Venue TBC)
