Flamingos v Venezuela: U-17 Women's World Cup quarter-final

Nigeria's Flamingos play Venezuela in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup on Sunday, with kick-off at 19:00 WAT. The winner goes through to the semi-finals in Morocco, where China PR or Brazil will be waiting.

By Emily, Sports Editor · Published 31 Oct 2026, 13:15 WAT · Updated 31 Oct 2026, 13:15 WAT

How did Nigeria reach the quarter-finals?

The Flamingos beat Mexico 2-1 in Rabat on Thursday in the round of 16, the NFF reported. Oluebube Umejiaku opened the scoring in the 40th minute, by the NFF's timing, taking the ball through three defenders and finishing past goalkeeper Ania López. Mary Dunstan made it 2-0 in the 71st minute with her first goal of the tournament. Mexico pulled one back through Campos in the 10th minute of added time, the NFF said, and Nigeria saw the game out. Channels Television's report gives different times: 39 and 70 minutes for the Nigerian goals, and Mexico's goal in the 2nd minute of added time (90+2), scored by Delgado.

Both Nigerian goals were checked by the video assistant referee and allowed to stand, Channels Television reported. Dunstan's goal came after López punched away a shot from substitute Precious Oscar.

Head coach Hakeem Busari made his first change early in the second half, bringing on Precious Oscar for Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who had taken a knock. After the win, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, pledged N2 million to the players. NFF acting general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme pledged N1 million.

The campaign did not start well. Nigeria lost their opening Group B game 2-1 to Poland, Channels Television reported, then beat Puerto Rico 2-0 with goals from Adegbuyi and Oscar. The big result came against North Korea, the two-time defending champions. Adegbuyi, Umejiaku and Kanyinsola Rodiat Yusuf, with a free-kick, scored in a 3-1 win that ended North Korea's 18-match unbeaten run in regulation time at the tournament.

Who are Venezuela?

Venezuela knocked out Germany 1-0 in the round of 16 on Wednesday. Diana Bravo scored the only goal in the fifth minute, according to CONMEBOL. CONMEBOL said Venezuela are the first South American side to beat Germany at this tournament, after six earlier defeats, and that Germany had just one shot on target.

This is Venezuela's third quarter-final at the U-17 Women's World Cup. They reached the same stage in 2014 and 2016 and finished fourth both times. Their group stage was harder than their knockout win. FIFA's official results show a 2-0 defeat to France, a 3-2 win over Zambia and a 2-0 defeat to Japan, which left them third in Group D on three points. They went through as one of the best third-placed teams.

What has Busari said?

Busari warned his players against taking Venezuela lightly, Daily Post reported. "Venezuela won their game [against Germany], so they are a good side. But Nigeria are too," he told FIFA. "On the day it'll be decided over 90 minutes, and we'll all give our best."

The game is at Pitch 4 of the Mohammed VI Football Complex. Daily Post listed it at 7pm, which matches FIFA's 18:00 GMT start. One later Daily Post report gave 5pm Nigerian time, but FIFA's schedule has 18:00 GMT, which is 19:00 WAT.

Why it matters

Nigeria finished third at the 2022 edition in India, Channels Television noted. Two more wins would take this group past that mark and into the final. Follow the Flamingos and the other national teams on our Nigeria page.

Sources: Nigeria Football Federation — FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup: Flamingos reach quarter-finals with 2-1 win over Mexico · Channels Television — Umejiaku, Dunstan Fire Flamingos Into U-17 World Cup Quarter-Finals · Daily Post Nigeria — 2026 U-17 WWC: Quarter-final fixtures confirmed · Daily Post Nigeria — 2026 U-17 WWC: Busari charges Flamingos to avoid complacency against Venezuela · CONMEBOL — Venezuela vence a Alemania y clasifica a Cuartos de Final