Nigeria’s U17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, stormed into the knockout rounds of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup after thrashing Samoa 4-0 at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé on Saturday evening.
Queen Joseph led the charge with a fine brace, while Shakirat Moshood converted a penalty before Azeezat Oduntan sealed the victory with a superb strike from distance.
The result brought much-needed relief after a rocky start to the tournament.
Nigeria had opened with a 4-1 defeat to Canada and then fell narrowly 1-0 to France, leaving them on the brink of elimination. But Saturday’s emphatic display lifted them into the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere made key changes before the match, notably handing goalkeeper Sylvia Echefu her debut in place of the error-prone Elizabeth Boniface. The tactical switch paid off, as Echefu impressed with composure and a couple of brilliant late saves to preserve a clean sheet.
Queen Joseph inspires Flamingos revival
The Flamingos began brightly, moving the ball with confidence and pinning Samoa deep into their own half.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 12th minute when Queen Joseph tucked home a close-range finish after sustained pressure.
Moments later, VAR spotted a handball in the Samoan box, and Shakirat Moshood calmly converted the penalty to double Nigeria’s lead. By the 34th minute, Joseph struck again, another poacher’s effort, to make it 3-0 before the break.
Nigeria could have gone further ahead early in the second half when they won another penalty, but Moshood’s effort was brilliantly saved by Samoa’s goalkeeper Ae Grace.
There was, however, no denying the Flamingos’ dominance.
In the 67th minute, Azeezat Oduntan put the gloss on a sparkling performance with a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box.
Samoa threatened late on, but Echefu’s sharp reflexes ensured Nigeria held firm. The victory sends the Flamingos into the round of 16, joining hosts Morocco as the second African side through.
Nigeria now await their next opponents, possibly North Korea, the tournament’s most successful side, or Italy, who topped Group A.
