Flamingos Shock Defending Champions North Korea to Seal Knockout Spot
Nigeria’s Flamingos have booked their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating defending champions North Korea 3-1 in their final Group B match on Friday. The victory came at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, as Nigeria delivered an impressive performance against the reigning champions.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi opened the scoring in the 15th minute from Mary Dunstan’s assist before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 38th minute, assisted by Tosin Rafiu. Kanyinsola Yusuf made it 3-0 in the 58th minute, while Yu Jong-Hyang scored North Korea’s only goal in the 82nd minute.
The Flamingos finished second in Group B behind North Korea to secure qualification for the knockout stage. Their campaign included a 2-1 defeat to Poland, a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico and the crucial win over the defending champions, giving Nigeria renewed momentum heading into the next round.
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