Nigeria’s Flamingos will face defending champions Korea DPR on Friday in a crucial FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup match, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
Korea DPR, two-time champions since the competition began in New Zealand in 2008, have won their opening two matches to top Group B. They have scored 12 goals and conceded only one, demonstrating their attacking strength.
Nigeria, bronze medallists in 2022, are looking to advance after losing 2-1 to Poland in their opening match before recovering with a 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Puerto Rico.
A win or draw against Korea DPR would guarantee the Flamingos’ progression to the knockout stage. However, a defeat would leave their qualification hopes dependent on the result of the Poland-Puerto Rico match and the applicable tiebreakers.
The two teams have met twice at the U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria won 3-2 in 2010, while Korea DPR secured a 3-0 victory in 2016.
Coach Akeem Busari and his players will need to remain defensively organised and make the most of their scoring opportunities against the dominant Group B leaders.
The match will kick off at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Nigerian time) at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé/Rabat, Morocco.
