Goals by Oluebube Umejiaku and Mary Dunstan made all the difference for Nigeria on Thursday, as the Flamingos defeated Mexico 2-1 in the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup round of 16, Sports247 reports.
Coach Akeem Busari and his lasses will now turn attention to a clash with Venezuela in the quarter-finals, with an understanding that their next opponents shocked title favourites Germany 1-0 on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, Busari’s squad will be spurred on by the euphoria of Thursday’s win, as the Flamingos gave yet another thrilling display of attacking flair to overcome the Mexicans, with Umejiaku opening scoring in the 40th minute and Dunstan later hit target midway through the second half.
Mexico pulled one back 10 minutes to into added time, to set up a tense finish, but Busari’s wards held firm to book their place in the last eight and now turn their attention on how to defeat Venezuela, as they continue their quest to improve on Nigeria’s bronze medal finish of the 2022 edition in India.
