Flamingos face Venezuela on Sunday in Morocco 2026 quarter-final
By Tosin Omojola
Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, will face Venezuela in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 on Sunday, with both sides battling for a place in the semi-finals.
The Flamingos endured a difficult start to the tournament, losing 2-1 to Poland in their opening Group B fixture. However, they bounced back with a 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Puerto Rico before recording an impressive 3-1 win against defending champions North Korea to secure qualification for the Round of 16.
Coach Hakeem Busari’s side maintained their momentum with a hard-fought victory over Mexico in the knockout stage, booking their place in the quarter-finals and keeping alive their hopes of reaching the last four.
Venezuela, meanwhile, have returned to the tournament after a ten-year absence. They began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to France but revived their hopes with a group-stage victory over fellow African side Zambia.
Despite their inconsistent group-stage performances, the South Americans announced their threat in the Round of 16 with a surprise 1-0 victory over Germany, setting up Sunday’s quarter-final showdown with Nigeria.
Venezuela also boast an impressive record in recent editions of the competition, having reached the semi-finals in their last two appearances. A victory over the Flamingos would see them make it to the last four for a third consecutive time, underlining the challenge facing Nigeria.
With a semi-final ticket at stake, the Flamingos will need to maintain their defensive discipline, take their chances and reproduce the determination that powered them past Mexico.
The encounter is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Nigerian time) on Sunday, November 1, at Pitch 4 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, Rabat.
