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Nigeria will be seeking to reach the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final for the first time when they face Brazil in Wednesday’s semi-final in Morocco.
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Hakeem Busari’s side recovered from an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland by recording victories over Puerto Rico, defending champions North Korea, Mexico and Venezuela to secure their semi-final spot.
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Brazil’s Greise Kelly has emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers with three goals and five assists, while goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho will be crucial to Nigeria’s hopes of containing the South Americans.
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Brazil head into the encounter unbeaten after scoring 17 goals in five matches, compared to Nigeria’s nine goals and five conceded, setting up a challenging contest for the Flamingos as they pursue a historic final appearance.
November 4, (THEWILL) – The Flamingos of Nigeria will be aiming to make history when they take on Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on Wednesday night.
It is a semi-final that promises plenty of excitement, with both teams having shown resilience, character and an ability to find their way through difficult moments.
For Nigeria, though, this is another opportunity to show how far they have come since arriving in Morocco and how much belief has grown within the team.
The journey has certainly not been straightforward for Hakeem Busari’s side.
Nigeria began their campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Poland, a result that left them with little room for error in their remaining group matches.
There were questions to answer, and the pressure was already building. With qualification for the knockout stages hanging in the balance, the Flamingos needed to respond quickly.
They did exactly that, grinding out a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico to get their campaign back on track.
The real turning point, however, came against defending champions, North Korea. Nigeria produced a performance that announced their arrival as serious contenders, with the Flamingos winning 3-1 and showing confidence, discipline and a level of attacking quality.
It was a statement victory, one that not only secured their place in the Round of 16 but also gave the players a huge boost in belief heading into the knockout stages, where they conquered Mexico in a 2-1 in.
Against Venezuela in the Round of 8, patience and persistence were required.
Chances came and went, and it looked as though the contest might need extra time before Azeezat Oduntan stepped up in the 89th minute to convert a penalty and send Nigeria into the semi-finals.
One player Nigeria will certainly need to keep an eye on in the Brazilian side is Greise Kelly.
She has been one of the standout performers in Morocco, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
At the other end, Nigeria will once again be looking towards goalkeeper Jane Ijirigho.
Her performances have been particularly important during the knockout rounds, with some crucial interventions helping the Flamingos stay in games and progress through difficult moments.
Nigeria’s Head Coach Busari described the semi-final berth as a dream come true and an opportunity to make the country proud. “Reaching the semi-finals is a dream come true for me and a great achievement.
“I’m looking forward to it because I want to make my country proud. We want to give our best in the next match and show everyone what we can do.”
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Similarly, Brazil defender Andreyna has urged her teammates to be at their best to stand a chance of beating Nigeria.
She said: “I expect a very tough match. Not just because it’s against Nigeria, but because it’s a World Cup semi-final. The team that makes the fewest mistakes and executes their game plan the best will win this one.
“I believe our success so far stems from our collective effort – especially our mental strength, which has grown throughout the tournament. Day in and day out, we’ve shown a drive to overcome every challenge that comes our way.”
Brazil have been one of the tournament’s most productive attacking teams, scoring 17 goals in five matches while remaining unbeaten.
Nigeria have scored nine goals and conceded five goals en route to the semi-finals.
The Flamingos have earned their place here through four consecutive victories and performances that have grown stronger with every passing game. They know what is at stake, and they will need to bring their best from the opening whistle.
The final is within reach. Now comes the challenge of taking that last big step.
The semi-final tie is scheduled for Wednesday, 4 November, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, Pitch 3, Rabat, Morocco, with kick-off set for 6 pm Morocco time (7 pm in Nigeria).
This is the second time Nigeria will be playing in the semi-finals of the competition; they will be hoping to qualify for the final for the first time.
