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Nigeria Defeat Venezuela To Qualify For U-17 World Cup Semi-Finals

Nigeria’s Flamingos recorded a 1-0 win over Venezuela on Sunday night to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

By Taiwo Ibrahim, THEWILL
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RABAT, MOROCCO - NOVEMBER 01: Azeezat Oduntan of Nigeria scores a penalty for her team?s first goal during the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup Quarter Final match between Nigeria and Venezuela at Mohammed VI Football Complex on November 01, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco. (Photo by Joern Pollex - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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  • Nigeria’s Flamingos booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after edging Venezuela 1-0 in a tense quarter-final encounter, extending their impressive campaign in the competition.

  • The Nigerian youngsters dominated much of the attacking play but were repeatedly frustrated by Venezuela goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales, whose series of impressive saves kept the contest goalless for most of the encounter.

  • Substitute Oduntan emerged as Nigeria’s match-winner after converting a late penalty in the 89th minute, following a VAR review that upheld the referee’s initial decision to award the spot-kick.

  • Top scorer Oluebube Umejiaku played a crucial role in the decisive moment by winning the penalty, as the Flamingos set up a mouth-watering semi-final showdown against Brazil, who defeated China 2-1 in their quarter-final clash.

November 02, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s Flamingos recorded a 1-0 win over Venezuela on Sunday night to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

The quarter-final contest had been closely fought, with Nigeria creating several opportunities but finding Venezuela goalkeeper Valeria Rebanales a huge stumbling block.

The Flamingos enjoyed much of the attacking play in the first half, but Rebanales produced a couple of saves to keep the scores level.

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Midfielder Favour Nkwocha was also cautioned as Nigeria continued to press for an opening goal.

Head Coach Hakeem Busari made his first change of the evening, introducing Precious Oscar for Oluwakemi Adegbuyi as Nigeria looked to find a way through.

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Nigeria women's national football team poses for a group photo on a soccer field, goalkeeper in red on the left.
Nigerias U 17 womens national team the Flamingos

The deadlock remained unbroken until the 88th minute, when the referee initially awarded Nigeria a penalty before being invited to the VAR monitor to review the decision.

Following the review, the penalty was upheld, and Oduntan stepped forward to convert from the spot with a minute left on the clock, giving Nigeria the breakthrough.

Top scorer Oluebube Umejiaku had won the penalty for the Flamingos, setting up Oduntan to deliver the decisive moment of the contest.

The victory sends Nigeria into the semi-finals, where they will face Brazil, who secured a 2-1 win over China in their quarter-final encounter.

Taiwo Ibrahim, THEWILL

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