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Nigeria’s Flamingos will face defending champions Korea DPR on Friday as they seek to secure qualification for the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The Nigerian side will take on the North Koreans in their final Group B fixture, with a place in the knockout stage at stake following mixed results in their opening two matches.
Korea DPR have emerged as one of the standout teams in the group, winning their first two matches to sit at the top of the standings. The two-time champions have scored 12 goals and conceded just once, highlighting their attacking strength ahead of the encounter.
Flamingos seek qualification
Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2022 edition, began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Poland before bouncing back with a 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Puerto Rico.
The victory restored Nigeria’s hopes of progressing to the next round, but the team will need another positive result against the defending champions to confirm their place in the knockout stage.
A win or draw would guarantee qualification for the Flamingos, while a defeat would leave their fate dependent on the outcome of the other Group B match between Poland and Puerto Rico, as well as the applicable tiebreakers.
Previous meetings
The encounter will be the third meeting between Nigeria and Korea DPR at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria recorded a 3-2 victory over the Asian side in 2010, but Korea DPR claimed a 3-0 win when the teams met again in 2016.
Coach Akeem Busari and his players will need to remain defensively disciplined and make the most of their scoring opportunities against opponents who have demonstrated considerable attacking efficiency in the tournament.
The Flamingos will also be seeking to build on their response to the opening defeat to Poland as they attempt to extend their stay in the competition.
Match details
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. local time, corresponding to 4 p.m. Nigerian time, at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé/Rabat, Morocco.
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