FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos target winning start against Poland

Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, will begin their 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Poland at Pitch 4 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Morocco on Saturday, October 17.

The Flamingos will be seeking a stronger showing than in the previous edition, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 after a 4-0 defeat to Italy.

Nigeria secured their place at the tournament after overcoming Guinea and Benin Republic during the qualifying campaign, demonstrating their attacking strength along the way.

Poland, meanwhile, return to the competition after missing the 2025 edition. Their last appearance was in 2024 in the Dominican Republic, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Korea DPR.

Saturday’s encounter will be the first meeting between Nigeria and Poland at this level, adding another dimension to the opening fixture as both sides seek to establish themselves in the group.

Nigeria are drawn in Group B alongside Poland, Puerto Rico and defending champions Korea DPR. A victory against Poland would give the Flamingos an important platform ahead of their remaining group-stage matches.

The Nigerian side, bronze-medallists at the 2022 tournament, will be aiming to progress beyond the round of 16 and make a deeper run in Morocco.

A strong start against Poland could prove crucial to those ambitions, with the Flamingos looking to translate their qualifying form into a successful opening result on the world stage.