Venezuela are back at the tournament after a ten-year absence and hungry for a big win on Sunday
Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingos, will face Venezuela in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 on Sunday, with both teams chasing a place in the last four.
The Flamingos had a difficult start to the tournament, losing 2-1 to Poland in their opening Group B match. However, they bounced back with a 2-0 win over debutants Puerto Rico before producing an impressive 3-1 victory over defending champions North Korea to secure their place in the Round of 16.
Coach Hakeem Busari’s side continued their strong run with a hard-fought Round of 16 win over Mexico. That result gives Nigeria another chance to reach the semi-finals as they look to go further than at the previous edition.
Venezuela, meanwhile, are back at the tournament after a ten-year absence. They lost 2-0 to France in their opening match but managed to pick up three points during the group stage against another African opposition, Zambia, to keep their campaign alive. Despite their mixed group-stage results, Venezuela showed what they are capable of in the Round of 16, recording a surprise 1-0 victory over Germany.
They will now be hoping to carry that momentum into their meeting with Nigeria. The South American side have a strong record in recent editions, having reached the semi-finals in their last two appearances. A victory here would see them reach the last four for a third consecutive time, making them a dangerous opponent for the Flamingos.
With a semi-final place at stake, the Flamingos will need to stay organised, take their chances and deliver another strong performance against a Venezuela side full of belief. The game is scheduled for 6pm local time (7pm Nigerian time) on Sunday, 1st November at the Mohammed VI Football Complex (Pitch 4) in Sale, Rabat.
Photo: Flamingos’ top scorer Oluebube Umejiaku on the run against Mexico on Thursday.
